Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 – Photos & Video

Čaj 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.

The Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 was a type of rotary-wing kite, known as a gyroglider or rotor kite. It was developed by Germany during World War II to provide submarines with a simple and low-cost reconnaissance device. The Fa 330 could be towed behind a submarine at speeds up to 38 km/h (24 mph) and could reach an altitude of about 120 m (400 ft). The pilot could control the pitch and roll of the rotor by using pedals and a hand lever.
The Fa 330 had a three-bladed rotor with a diameter of 7.3 m (24 ft) and a steel-tube frame with a single-seat cockpit. The rotor was spun by the airstream and did not require an engine. The Fa 330 could be folded and stored in a watertight container on the deck of the submarine. About 200 units were built and used by the German Navy, but they proved to be of limited value due to their low speed, limited range, vulnerability to enemy fire, and dependence on weather conditions.