[WWII] Focke-Achgelis Fa 338 tilt-wing transport (Germany, fictional)

[copeab]

Focke-Achgelis Fa 338 tilt-wing transport
Copyright 2011 by Brandon Cope

The Fa 247 was too expensive for what it offered over the Fa 223. A larger vehicle was started in lated 1942 that, while costing twice as much, was considerably more useful. It could carry 6.75 tons of cargo internally or 32 passengers (40 in crowded conditions). While it was a useful aircraft, it was also difficult to produce and only about 100 were built, 30 each of the cargo-carrying A-1 and passenger carrying A-2, with 40 of the the multi-role A-3 being built (with easy-to-remove seating).

Crew consists of a pilot, copilot and flight engineer. The Fa 338 uses 134 gallons of aviation fuel per hour.

Subassemblies: Gargantuan Helicopter Chassis with MMR option +3, Heavy FB wings +3, 2xMedium TD engine pods +1, two rotors +1, three fixed wheels +2
P&P: 2x1,492 kW aerial HP gasoline engine w/2x1,492-kW tilt-wing transmission, 630 gallon ultralight tanks [Body]
Occ: 3 CS Cargo: 163 Body.

Armor
Body: 2/2C
Wings/Pods: 2/3
Rotor: 3/10
Wheels: 3/5

Equipment
Body: IFF, medium range radio receiver and transmitter, navigational instruments, 160 VSP cargo hold, 3 VSP storage locker, three 2000-lb hardpoints.

Statistics
Size: 61'x122'x20'
Payload: 9.1 tons
Lwt: 17.6 tons
Volume: 1,600
Maint.: 19 hours
Price: $106,000

HT: 8
HP: 450 [body], 72 [each rotor], 225 [each wing], 360 [each pod], 30 [each wheel]

as Helicopter
aSpeed: 108
aAccel: 3
aDecel: 9
aMR: 2
aSR: 2
Stall: 0 mph

as Plane
aSpeed: 312
aAccel: 6
aDecel: 8
aMR: 1.75
aSR: 2
Stall: 102 mph

Design Notes
As helicopters tend to have too high a speed under MVDS, aSpeed was reduced by 20%. Wing and engine pods cost, weight and HP were divided by two.

One or two 300 liter (79 gallon) drop tanks are also often fitted to increase range, weighing 600 lbs each.

The tilt-wing was based on the tilt-rotor rules (p.VE34). The helicopter must use the multiple main rotors option (p.W:MP1) and the helicopter's cost, weight and volume are increased by 50%; the basic transmissions go into two pods, at each wingtip, with the extra going into the wings. The wings cannot mount weapons or fuel tanks, and their hardpoint capacity is halved. The aircraft must be traveling above stall speed to transition from plane and under 300 mph to transition to helicopter. Transitioning either way takes 4 seconds and the pilot is -5 to Dodge.

Variants:
The Fa 338A-2 carried 32 passengers. Stall is 93, aMR is 3/2.25 and aDecel is 12/9. Three MG 131's (Medium Aircraft HMGs) with 500 rounds per gun can optionally be carried, but must be fired by the passengers. One is located in each beam position and one dorsal firing to the rear. Up to 3.2 tons of equipment can be slung under the body.

One A-2 was modified as a secondary transport for Hitler, with seating for 10 passengers, additional armament and communications equipment.

[johndallman]

That's ... likely to be an effective interrogation method against captured pilots. "Tell us all you know, or you vill go for a flight in zis!"

It needs mad science to have a HT this high, even if it is a great deal simpler than the V-22 Osprey. It might be an idea to increase the maintenance requirements.

[KevinJ]

You need a 4th crew member. The technology of the day meant that both the pilot and co-pilot were very busy flying the aircraft so neither one can spare any effort to operate the radios or other in flight systems. The Flight Engineer would be to busy with the radio and other electronics to supervise the loading and unloading of cargo, troops or material. So you need a crew chief.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by KevinJ

You need a 4th crew member.

There is room for one if needed. At the standard 100 lb per VSP, the aircraft only uses 135 of it's 160 VSP for cargo. (perhaps I should explicitlt state this.

The technology of the day meant that both the pilot and co-pilot were very busy flying the aircraft so neither one can spare any effort to operate the radios or other in flight systems. The Flight Engineer would be to busy with the radio and other electronics to supervise the loading and unloading of cargo, troops or material. So you need a crew chief.

Not really, unless the cargo or passengers are exiting in flight. The flight engineer doesn't have to handle electronics on the ground.