| A.R.III Gyroplane | |
|---|---|
| Hafner AR.III at Heston, 1935 | |
| Role | Experimental autogyro |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | A.R.III Construction Company |
| Designer | Raoul Hafner |
| First flight | 6 February 1937 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Hafner A.R.III Gyroplane was a British 1930s experimental autogyro designed by Austrian Raoul Hafner, and built by the A.R.III Construction Company at Denham, Buckinghamshire.[1][2]
The single-seat Gyroplane had a three-blade auto-rotating rotor fitted above the fuselage on a strutted plyon.[1] In the nose of the fuselage was mounted a 90 hp (67 kW) Pobjoy Niagara radial piston engine.[1] It had a fixed tailwheel landing gear, and the rear fuselage had a large dorsal fin to counteract torque from the rotor.[2] An unusual feature was the rotor control system, with both a cyclic and collective pitch control of the rotor blades; this feature became a standard feature on all helicopters.[2] In 1935, the Gyroplane was manufactured at the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company's factory at Denham, Buckinghamshire.[1] In autumn 1935, the Gyroplane, registered G-ADMV, first flew at Heston Aerodrome, piloted by V.H. Baker.[3] On 6 February 1937, it flew at Hanworth Air Park, having been modified as the mark 2 version. It was tested at Farnborough, and leased to the Royal Aircraft Establishment for research, but it was scrapped during the second world war.[1] A two-seat A.R.IV and three-seat A.R.V were planned, but construction was stopped when Hafner was interned under Defence Regulation 18B.
Data from [1]British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume
General characteristics
Performance
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