Flettner airplane
Encyclopedia
A flettner or rotor airplane is an airplane that has no wing
s but instead uses the Magnus effect
to create lift. Thus it is similar to the Flettner rotor used in a Rotor ship. Such airplanes were first built by Anton Flettner
.
Although at least one aircraft was constructed, there is no record of them ever having flown.
on 9 May 1926, and docked in New York, where it attracted considerable attention. The image shows the prototype of the rotor aircraft in an American shipyard at Hudson, New York
. At that time, corresponding developments were made in Germany
already.
The development of this unusual aircraft based on research by Ludwig Prandtl at the Aerodynamic Research Institute (AVA) in Göttingen
. Prandtl experimented with rotating cylinders in the wind tunnel. The cylinders created up to ten times more lift than a plane wing .
More recently, the "iCar 101" project suggests the use of Flettner rotors in roadable aircraft design to combine compactness and increased lift potential.
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
s but instead uses the Magnus effect
Magnus effect
The Magnus effect is the phenomenon whereby a spinning object flying in a fluid creates a whirlpool of fluid around itself, and experiences a force perpendicular to the line of motion...
to create lift. Thus it is similar to the Flettner rotor used in a Rotor ship. Such airplanes were first built by Anton Flettner
Anton Flettner
Anton Flettner was a German aviation engineer and inventor. He made important contributions to airplane and helicopter design...
.
Although at least one aircraft was constructed, there is no record of them ever having flown.
History
The development of the rotor aircraft was inspired by Flettner's rotor ship. The rotor ship, the Buckau, now renamed the "Baden-Baden," successfully crossed the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
on 9 May 1926, and docked in New York, where it attracted considerable attention. The image shows the prototype of the rotor aircraft in an American shipyard at Hudson, New York
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
. At that time, corresponding developments were made in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
already.
The development of this unusual aircraft based on research by Ludwig Prandtl at the Aerodynamic Research Institute (AVA) in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
. Prandtl experimented with rotating cylinders in the wind tunnel. The cylinders created up to ten times more lift than a plane wing .
More recently, the "iCar 101" project suggests the use of Flettner rotors in roadable aircraft design to combine compactness and increased lift potential.