Hafner A.R.III Gyroplane

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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]

Design and development

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.

Variants

A.R.III: Prototype single-seat autogyro powered by a Pobjoy Niagara radial piston engine.
A.R.IV: Experimental rotorcraft to meet Air Ministry Specification S.22/38. Powered by a 210hp de Havilland Gipsy Six II engine, construction was started by Short Brothers as the Fleet Spotter, but was stopped in May 1940 when Hafner was interned.
A.R.V: Experimental rotorcraft to meet Air Ministry Specification S.22/38. Powered by a 210hp de Havilland Gipsy Six II engine, construction was started by Short Brothers as the Night Shadower, but was stopped in May 1940 when Hafner was interned.

Specifications

Data from ^[1]British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 17 ft 10 in (5.44 m)
Main rotor diameter: 32 ft 10 in (10.00 m)
Empty weight: 640 lb (290 kg)
Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pobjoy Niagara, 90 hp (67 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 120 mph ( km/h)

References

Notes

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jackson 1973, p. 319
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Orbis 1985, p. 2057
↑ Flight, 19 September 1935, p. 318

Bibliography

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
Jackson, A.J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10010-7.

v t e Aircraft designed by Raoul Hafner

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