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The scene was the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at Ringway, Manchester. The time was 1940 when Britain was at war. The designer, Raoul Hafner, suggested the Rotabuggy, a Jeep (or "Blitz Buggy") with rotors.
They selected a Jeep and went ahead. Among other things, a 46 foot 8 inch diameter, two-blade rotor was fitted to the vehicle. A streamlined tail fairing with twin rudderless fins was also attached to the basic Jeep.
The Rotabuggy, camouflaged, carrying RAF roundels and a prototype "P", was tow tested behind a supercharged Bentley automobile, and achieved gliding speeds of up to 65 mph indicated air speed. The first flight was made on November 16, 1943. Later, some flights were made behind a Whitley bomber from Sherbourne-in-Elmet. Some of the results were pretty scarey.
For those results check the website "Unreal Aircraft". The story of the Hafner Flying Jeep may be found at -
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http://www.unrealaircraft.com/roadable/rotabuggy.php
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"Roadable Times" Features and Departments
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