The Aerostatoplan, also known as the Vertoplan, was a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft that featured a tilt wing design.
This innovative concept was proposed by the renowned ex-Russian designer, Nikolai I Žučenko, in 1937 to the Yugoslav Air Force, which provided financial support for its development and construction at the Ikarus Factory.
A single-seat prototype was subsequently constructed, which boasted a full-wood structure with a canvas cover and a high-ranked three-point chassis.
The trapezoidal wing, with an approximate span of 6.7 meters, was designed to rotate on a hollow beam, through which propeller-propellers were led.
However, the aircraft lacked cyclic control, rendering it incapable of being directed on all three axes.
During testing, the aircraft was unable to leave the ground, with the underpowered 37Kw Walter Mikron engine being identified as the root cause of this issue.
Initial tests began in 1939, but the onset of World War II prevented further development of this promising aircraft.
