Bölkow Bo 103
The single-seat test helicopter Bo 103 was built in 1961 by the Bölkow- Entwicklungen KG within the framework of a research order from the German Federal Ministry of Defense (Bundesverteidigungsministerium). As the successor of the so-called Heli-Trainer, this helicopter was also equipped with a single-blade rotor made of fiberglass-plastic.
The new styled glass-fibre rotor blade was constructed so that the offsetting-weight arm of the rotor and the rotor blade itself were made in one piece. This construction enabled a significant improvement in the flight performance. The helicopter for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) was designed for reconnaissance and command-control purposes. Only the prototype of this model was built. The German Armed Forces was no longer interested in this limited-use, single-seat aircraft. Because of the demand from the civilian sector was also improbable, work on the promising Bo 103 concept was stopped for the time being in 1962.
Technical data
Bo 103
| Power plant | Agusta GA 70 V with 82 PS | |
| Year of construction | 1961 |
Performance
| Top speed | 100 km/h |
| Climb speed (inclined) | 5.7 m/sec |
| Range | 100 km |
Weight
| Empty weight | 268 kg |
| Take-off weight | 390 kg |
Dimensions
| Height | 2.41 m |
| Diameter main rotor | 6.66 m |
| Crew | 1 person |
