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The S-3 was an experimental ultralight helicopter built by the Seibel Helicopter company. It first took flight in September of 1947. The S-3 was a helicopter that Charles Seibel built and flew mainly to demonstrate his company’s simplified two-bladed rotor system and transmission. Each blade attaches to the rotor hub with the help of a piece of bent sheet metal. This formed an angle that could be “twisted” to control changes in pitch. The advantage of this design is how mechanically simple it is. There is no need for bearings, hinges or dampers. This makes the system relatively cheap and therefore attractive for small enthusiast helicopters. To induce lateral movement, all you need is to shift the center of gravity. This is achieved through a lever-controlled linkage system that pitched the entire fuselage side to side, or back and forth. Thus shifting the center of gravity. The S-3 possessed a single 65 horsepower Franklin engine and weighed a scant 365 kg when loaded.It could cruise at a leisurely 112 kilometers per hour and climb at 275 meters per minute to a ceiling of 3.66 kilometers.
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