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08/31/2007. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The Fl 265 was the first helicopter with inter-meshing contra-rotating synchronized rotors, the patent of Anton Flettner. In June 1941 the Fl 265 was also made the world's first transition from powered flight to autorotative flight and back to powered flight. The RLM ordered two prototypes (later increased to six) and construction started in 1938. Powered by an 150 hp Brandenburgische Motorenwerke (Bramo) 314 B engine the Fl 265 V1, registered D-EFLV, c/n 1579, made its first tethered trials indoors in secrecy near Johannesthal (Berlin, Germany), in January 1939. At the controls was Flettner's chief test pilot, Flugkapitän Richard Perla, who also made the first free flight in May 1939. The Fl 265s were tested all over Europe, in a wind tunnel at Chalais-Meudon, France, in sea-trials by the Kriegsmarine (Navy) from ships in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean, and over the Alps by the Wehrmacht (Army). Despite good results the program was ended in March 1942 in favour of the Fl 282."