Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache

what is it?

The Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache (English: Dragon) was a helicopter developed by Germany during World War II. A single 750-kilowatt (1,010 hp) Bramo 323 radial engine powered two three-bladed 11.9-metre (39 ft) rotors mounted on twin booms on either side of the 12.2-metre-long (40 ft) cylindrical fuselage. Although the Fa 223 is noted for being the first helicopter to attain production status, production of the helicopter was hampered by Allied bombing of the factory, and only 20 were built. The Fa 223 could cruise at 175 kilometres per hour (109 mph) with a top speed of 182 km/h (113 mph), and climb to an altitude of 7,100 m (23,300 ft).

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine · 12 m main rotor

base stats

• speed 176 km/htop speed
• range 437 kmwithout refuelling
• seats 4passengers
• size 4,315 kgmax take-off weight
• built 18made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 86 years ago, in 1940.
• 🚗Wingspan of 24.5 m: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1940-08-03

introduced

1941

number built

18

role

helicopter

makers

Focke-Achgelis

engines

1× BMW Bramo 323D-2

crew

2

passengers

4

length

12.3 m

wingspan

24.5 m

rotor diameter

12 m

height

4.4 m

max take-off weight

4,315 kg

top speed

176 km/h

cruise speed

134 km/h

range

437 km

ceiling

4,875 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.