ROD-008 1/72 PKZ-2 Austro-Hungarian WW1 helicopter model kit

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ROD-008 1/72 PKZ-2 Austro-Hungarian WW1 helicopter model kit

Roden 1/72 PKZ-2 Austro-Hungarian WW1 helicopter model kit. Pic.1

The world first real helicopter was built in Austria-Hungary during the last stage of World War One. Yet on 1916 major Stephan Petrochy proposed idea of replacing observation balloons by a new-type construction. He suggested that helicopter would be more reliable and dangerous like hydrogenium-filled balloons.
Initially new helicopter planned with installation of 300 hp electric Austro Daimler motor, but this decision was wrong because construction was too heavy.
In final view PKZ-2 (PKZ for Petrochy-Karman-Zurovec whose ideas and decisions gave a life to helicopter) was a counter-rotating machine with two rotors and three 100 hp Gnome rotary engines; construction was light and easy for transportation purposes. PKZ-2 was a tethered helicopter with tethering cables, retracted by winches from the ground. Observer disposed in special cupola-liked basket; he could leave cupola with parachute, if it was necessary.
Test flights of PKZ-2 began on April 1918. More powerful Le Rhones soon replaced unreliable Gnomes. Helicopter performed more than 30 successful flights but some problems like stability-on-flight still unsolved.
On June 10, 1918 PKZ-2 was demonstrated for military commanding officers; two flights among others were with observers basked (but without observer). On same day helicopter crashed from height and slightly damaged. Military commanding refused from PKZ-2 for high danger to observer. On June 21 project was canceled.
Finally, PKZ-2 was a revolutionary design for its time. Only forty years later counter-rotating scheme was introduced on Kamov helicopters in the Soviet Union: other countries not adopted this scheme generally. And though PKZ-2 never used operationally, it really was a first real helicopter and only helicopter which flied on the sky of World War One.

Performances
Diameter of rotor blades - 6 m
Weight (without observer) - 1200 kg
Engines - (type, power) 3x Le Rhone, each 120 h.p.
Take-off speed - 1,5 m/sek
Crew - 1 per.
Armament - none