A flettner airplane or rotor airplane is an airplane that has no wings but instead uses the Magnus effect to create lift. Thus it is similar to the flettner rotor used in a rotor ship. Such airplanes were first built by Anton Flettner. Flettner airplane should not be confused with the cyclogyro, which uses a different aerodynamic effect, but has a similar configuration of rotors.
Although at least one aircraft was constructed, there was no record of them ever having flown. Recently at least one free-flying model has been built and flown.
Read more about Flettner Airplane: History
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