Avia VR-1

In 1945-1946, the Československé Závody Letecké factory in Czechoslovakia finished building two Fa 223s using salvaged parts.

These aircraft were then designated as VR-1.

The inaugural flight took place on 12 March 1948.

Specifications

Crew

2

Capacity

4 passengers

Length

12.25 m (40 ft 2 in) fuselage length

Wingspan

24.50 m (80 ft 5 in) span over rotors

Height

4.36 m (14 ft 4 in)

Empty weight

3,180 kg (7,011 lb)

Gross weight

3,860 kg (8,510 lb)

Max take-off weight

4,315 kg (9,513 lb)

Fuel capacity

490 L (108 Imp gal) internal + 300 L (66 Imp gal) external tank

Powerplant

1 × BMW Bramo 323D-2 nine-cylinder radial,

750 kW (1,000 hp) at take-off

Main rotor diameter

2 × 12.00 m (39 ft 4 in)

Main rotor area

226.00 m² (2,432.6 sq ft)

Performance

Maximum speed

176 km/h (109 mph, 95 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

Cruise speed

134 km/h (83 mph, 72 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

Range

437 km (272 mi, 236 nmi) internal fuel

Ferry range

700 km (430 mi, 380 nmi) with auxiliary fuel

Endurance

2 hr 20 min

Service ceiling

4,875 m (16,000 ft)

Rate of climb

4.1 m/s (800 ft/min) (vertical rate of climb),

5.6 m/s (1,100 ft/min) with forward speed

Armament

Guns

1 × MG 15 machine gun manually aimed from the nose.

Bombs

2× 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 2x depth charges

Sources

Czechoslovakian Air Force, 1918-1970, Aircam Aviation Special 05-Richard Ward, Zdenek Titz & Gordon C. Davies.

German Helicopters 1928-1945-Heinz J Nowarra.

Helicopters and other Rotorcraft since 1907.