Where Eagles Dare - Postwar Bell Helicopters in Germany in 1944?
At the beginning of the movie a german general lands in i helicoptor in Schloss Adler - Eagle Castle. However it is a postwar Bell helicoptor. the Germans did not have helicoptors during WWII.
The Germans did use helicopters in WWII. A famous test-pilot was a woman. The Nazi used her for propaganda purposes. The Fl-282 Kolibri looked like the Bell helicopter.
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I agree the Bell helicopter is out of place in "Where Eagles Dare".
Anton Flettner's
Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri had two counter-rotating, inter-meshing rotors to cancel out the torque induced by each other.
Look at
http://www.squadron.com/old/HU%20FL%20283%20%20Folder/%233.jpg
It did not have a tail rotor for canceling torque-induced spin, like the Bell helicopter in "Where Eagles Dare".
An aerospotter, expecting the Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri would be surprised by the presence of the Bell helicopter's tail rotor as well as the Bell helicopter's spherical Plexiglas bubble.
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The Bell helicopter may be a little out of place, to some peoples distaste,
but to myself it all adds to the intended essence of secrecy and espionage.
After all, the Germans designed a staggering amount of secret jet propelled
aircraft, largely on paper but not all. The first believe it or not The
Heinkel HE 78, was the first true jet plane to fly, and that was in 1939.
So you see, Alistair Maclean was on the button with surprise and awe, at the
unexpected entrance of this helicopter buzzing over the tree line over Richard Burtons head. After all, what would you have thought if a Messerschmitt ME 262
fighter jet flew over at an astonishing 600 mph, stupid?. Out of place?
It could have in 1941!!!
Anyways, back to the Bell. Did you know that Bell Helicopters did and still
do have an ongoing contract with F.A.G. industries and The SKF group. Both
leading world suppliers of ball bearings. These industries are located in the
district of Bayern in the town of Schweinfurt. These very ballbearing factories
were a jewel in Hitlers Armour case and turned the military mights wheels.
So much so that The Allies tried to blitz all the bearing factories in
Schweinfurt during WW11 including a "Black Thursday" to no avail.
But they destroyed the town. (The factories were hardly touched)...
Anyway, my point being, (sorry for the history) is that the tail rotor,
and main rotor bearings were made by these two WW11 German firms.
To me, seeing this helicopter in this film, is no bloop. It is a bliss.
Gary Boocock... a lover of "Where Eagles Dare"!!!
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