WW1 helicopters?

1 September 1999, 06:47 PM

I found another interesting technical report and was wondering what else is known on the subject. The report is NACA TN 47 "recent european developments in helicopters." by Prof Karman. The report is available on the NACA report server at the NASA langley website. Anyway, the report has discriptions of several tethered helicopters that were built, discussions on flight performance, a few really poor sketches and an incredibly fuzzy photo of one in flight. Apparently these were being proposed as a replacement for the balloon in the artillery spotting role. I have two questions:
1. Does anyone know of any other sources on this subject?
2. Is the Prof Karman who wrote this report the same Theodore von Karman who was Prandtl's student?

Thanks in advance.
Kevin

PeterL · 1 September 1999, 11:19 PM

If we are talking about the three engined Austrian types, and forgive the intrusion if not, there is a Mini Datafile from Albatros and an etched brass 1/48 scale kit from Eduard.

Peter L

Vigilant · 2 September 1999, 01:50 AM

Kevin,
Could you post the URL for the NACA reports? I have visited what I think is the right NASA site but can't get to them. Thanks.

2 September 1999, 04:48 AM

The URL for the NACA server is http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/

And yes, one of the helicopter models is a three engined austrian one. Thanks for the tip on the datafile.

Darryl · 2 September 1999, 05:22 AM

*Everybody* knows but it is worth re-stating that the idea was not new....... Leonardo made some very nice drawings just a few years (read few hundred) before WW1

best regards

Darryl

leo · 2 September 1999, 04:55 PM

Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One has 5 pages stsrting on page 376 on Helicopter development in the KuK LFT

Ira_Silverman · 2 September 1999, 07:29 PM

Kevin:

The PKZ-2 was the WW1 Austro-Hungarian helicopter, and the subject of an Albatros Mini-Datafile.

The "K" in PKZ was the initial of Theodore von Karman, Prandtl's student, Cal Tech Professor, author of the report you mentioned,and one of the more brilliant aeronautical minds of the first half century.

For more information on TvK, see "The Universal Man. Theodore von Karman's Life in Aeronautics," by Michael H. Gorn, published by Smithsonian Institution Press.

VBR,

Ira

2 September 1999, 07:45 PM

Thanks, I will definetly look that one up.