Raoul Hafner

United Kingdom

 

1905-1980

Raoul Hafner was an Austrian born pioneer in rotorcraft design and development. Initially, in 1928, he collaborated with Bruno Nagler on an early helicopter design. Pre World War II he began developing various gyroplanes including the Hafner AR-III, which became the first aircraft to successfully employ cyclic pitch. The Bristol Aircraft Company subsequently purchased the patent rights to this aircraft as they began to explore the development of rotary-wing aircraft.

In 1944, rotorcraft pioneer Raoul Hafner was appointed by Bristol as Chief Designer and head of the new Helicopter Division. He was directly responsible for all the early helicopter designs emanating from Bristol including the Type 171 Sycamore and  all develoments of the tandem rotor Bristol Belvedere.

Hafner was awarded the Alexander Klemin Award in 1953.

He was lost at sea from his own yacht in November 1980.

 

Milestones associated with Raoul Hafner
September 19, 1935	First practical use of cyclic pitch (Hafner A.R.III)
January 3, 1952	First flight of the Bristol Type 173 Mk. 1