The Focke-Wulf Fw 44 is a 1930s German two-seat biplane known as the Stieglitz ("Goldfinch"). It was produced by the Focke-Wulf company as a pilot training and sport flying aircraft. It was also eventually built under license in several other countries.
Design and development [edit]
The Fw 44 was designed as a biplane with conventional layout and straight, non-tapered wings. Its two open cockpits were arranged in tandem, and both cockpits were equipped with flight controls and instruments. The Fw 44 had fixed tailwheel landing gear. It employed ailerons on both upper and lower wings. It did not use flaps. It was flown with a Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine.
The first prototype flew in 1932.[1] After many tests and modifications to increase the plane's durability and aerodynamics, the final Fw 44 proved to have excellent airworthiness.
A second version of the Fw 44 was the Fw 44B, which had an Argus As 8 four-cylinder inverted inline air-cooled engine of 90 kW (120 hp).[1] The cowling for this engine gave the plane a more slender, aerodynamic nose.
20 Fw 44s purchased by China were modified for combat missions and participated in the early stage of the Second Sino-Japanese War until all were lost in action.
The last series version was Fw 44J, which was sold or built on license in several countries around the world. It was equipped with a seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine.
Variants [edit]
FW44J G-STIG at Old Warden 2008
- Fw 44B
- Fw 44C
- Main production version with minor equipment changes, powered by a seven-cyclinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.
- Fw 44D
- Fw 44E
- Fw 44F
- Fw 44J
- Final production model, powered by a seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.
Operators [edit]
Argentina
Austria
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
China
Chile
Colombia
Czechoslovakia
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Romania
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey - 1937 - 1962)
Yugoslavia
Specifications (Fw 44) [edit]
Data from Holmes, 2005. p. 79.
General characteristics
- Crew: two, student and instructor
- Length: 7.30 m (23 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 9.0 m (29 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.80 m (9 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 20 m² (215.2 ft²)
- Empty weight: 565 kg (1,243 lb)
- Loaded weight: 770 kg (1,694 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 785 kg (1,727 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Siemens Sh 14 A-4 7-cylinder radial engine, 118 kW at 2,100 rpm (160 hp)
Performance
References [edit]
- ^ a b c Holmes, 2005. p. 79.
Bibliography [edit]
- Holmes, Tony (2005). Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide. London: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-719292-4.
External links [edit]
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