NHI H-3 KOLIBRIE

En 1952 se constituyó en Holanda una organización conocida como SOBEH, cuyo fin era la construcción de un helicóptero experimental con el rotor accionado por estatorreactores. El primer vuelo del SOBEH H-2 (PH-NFI), fue en mayo de 1956 y al año siguiente se produjo el del prototipo H-3 KOLIBRIE, al mismo tiempo que nace la Nederlandese Helicopters Industrie (NHI). Se construyeron unas 10 unidades durante 1957 y se preveía la construcción de otras 10 con motores más potentes, pero se cree que no llego a ser completado al constatarse que este modelo tenía un rendimiento antieconómico.

In October 1955 the Nederlandse Helicopter Industrie was formed by the Aviolanda and Kromhout companies to build and market the production form of this helicopter, which was known as the H-3 Kolibrie. An H-3 prototype was flown in May 1956 and in 1957 an initial batch of ten production aircraft was laid down, the first three of which were used for certification tests. These machines were powered by two 20kg TJ-5 ram-jets, with a small 2hp auxiliary power unit to spin the rotors up to 70 r.p.m. for ignition. A second batch of ten was begun, these having 23kg TJ-5A ram-jets, but it is not certain whether all of these were completed. Until 1959 the ram-jets and rotor heads were manufactured by Kromhout, but subsequently these units were produced by Aviolanda in addition to the airframes. The rotor blades were built by Fokker. Domestic certification was granted to the Kolibrie in March 1958, delivery taking place to the first two Dutch customers immediately afterwards. Other Kolibries were sold in Germany, Israel and the United Kingdom. The Kolibrie was particularly suitable for agricultural duties, for which it could be fitted with 15.00m spray booms, or for helicopter pilot training. Up to three of the ventral fuel tanks could be replaced by tanks holding chemicals for crop spraying purposes. The H-3 could carry a passenger beside the pilot, or alternatively two stretchers, or a 375kg cargo load slung on an under-fuselage hook. Because of its high fuel consumption the Kolibrie was uneconomical to fly on nonproductive flights, and a special 'helicar' was developed to transport it on such journeys; this vehicle could also be used as a mobile take-off and landing platform. The initial purchase price of the Kolibrie made it one of the world's cheapest helicopters of its day, and it is unfortunate that the sales record was so disappointing. However, its versatility was emphasised by one of those sales, to a scientific expedition which used it for survey and exploration work in New Guinea.

Characteristics Características	Information Información	Characteristics Características	Information Información
First Flight Primer Vuelo	1956	Engine Motor	2 Estatorrectores NHI TJ-5
Seating Capacity Plazas	1 / 1	Power Potencia	55 HP
Empty Weight Peso Vacío	Kg	Hover Ceiling O.G.E. Estacionario O.G.E	Fts
Maximum Weight Peso Máximo	Kg	Hover Ceiling I.G.E. Estacionario I.G.E	Fts
Vel. Cruise Vel. crucero	Kts	Service Ceiling Techo de Servicio	Fts
V.N.E. V.N.E	Kts	Maximum Range (Std) Alcance (Std)	NM