Focke-Achgelis Fa 330

Focke-Achgelis Fa 330
Country	Nazi Germany
Role	Autogyro kite
First flight	Unknow
Built	200

The Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (English: Wagtail) was a type of rotary-wing kite, known as a gyroglider or rotor kite. They were towed behind German U-boats during World War II to allow a lookout to see further.

Source: Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 on Wikipedia

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze Walk Around
Photographers	Vladimir Yakubov, Randy Ray
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	44

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 01

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 02

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 03

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 04

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 05

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 06

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 07

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 08

Focke-Achgelis FA 330 Bachstelze 09

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The Kite with Rotors

The Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 was a unique, unpowered autogyro kite used by German U-boats during World War II. Because a submarine’s low profile limited its horizon to about 5 miles, the Fa 330 was developed to lift a lookout 400 feet into the air, extending their view to 25 miles. It had no engine; instead, it relied on the movement of the submarine and the wind to spin its rotors and provide lift. It was simple, foldable, and arguably one of the most dangerous assignments a sailor could receive.

Attribute	Technical Specification (Fa 330)
Role	Ship-borne Observation Autogyro Kite
Crew	1 (Pilot/Observer)
First Flight	1942
Powerplant	None (Tethered / Wind-driven)
Launch Method	Tethered cable and winch
Maximum Tow Speed	25 mph (on surface)
Rotor Diameter	24 ft (7.3 m)
Operational Altitude	Approx. 400 feet (120 m)

Engineering Simplicity and Autorotation

Autorotation Principle: Unlike a helicopter, the Fa 330’s rotors were not driven by an engine. The wind caused by the submarine’s forward motion blew upward through the blades, causing them to spin and create lift.
Minimalist Airframe: The craft consisted of little more than a steel tube frame, a pilot’s seat, a small instrument panel, and a rudder. There was no fuselage to speak of, leaving the pilot completely exposed to the elements.
Folding Design: To be stored in the limited space of a Type IX U-boat, the entire craft could be dismantled and packed into two vertical pressure-tight canisters on the deck in just a few minutes.
Emergency Release: If the submarine had to perform an emergency dive (Alarm!), the pilot could pull a lever to jettison the rotor. A parachute would then deploy from the hub to bring the pilot (and the seat) back to the water.

The Danger of the “Wagtail”

U-boat Vulnerability: While the Fa 330 helped find targets, it also made the submarine easier to spot from a distance. Furthermore, the time required to winch the pilot back down and stow the kite prevented the U-boat from diving instantly if attacked by Allied aircraft.
Deployment Areas: They were mostly used in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic, away from heavy Allied air cover where the risk of being caught on the surface was lower.
Communications: The pilot communicated with the U-boat captain via a telephone wire integrated into the steel tethering cable.
Survival: About 200 were built, and many survive today in museums—including the RAF Museum and the Smithsonian—because they were often captured intact when U-boats surrendered.