Friedrichshafen FF.54

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FF.54
Role Quadruplane fighter
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen
First flight 1917
Number built 1

The Friedrichshafen FF.54 was a German experimental quadruplane that was developed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen during the First World War.

Design and development[edit]

It was equipped with a 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIa in-line engine. The armament consisted of two LMG 08/15 machine guns that fired through the propeller. The first flight took place on October 31, 1917. The aircraft crashed on the first flight.[1] It was later rebuilt as a triplane, with the second wing from the top removed. The improved version was flown in May 1918, and crashed again. As a result, the project was discontinued in September 1918.

Specifications[edit]

Data from Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH,[2] The Complete Book of Fighters[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)

Performance Armament

  • Guns: 2 x fixed forward-firing LMG 08/15 machine-guns

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Friedrichshafen FF54". flyingmachines.ru. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  2. ^ Kober, Theodor von; Borzutzki, Siegfried (1993). Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH (in German) (1. Aufl ed.). Burbach. pp. 132-135. ISBN 978-3927513600.
  3. ^ Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander. p. 235. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Borzutzki, Siegfried (1993). Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH: Diplom-Ingenieur Theodor Kober [Friedrichshafen Aircraft Company: Diploma-Engineer Theodore Kober] (in German). Berlin: Burbach. ISBN 3-927513-60-1.
  • Herris, Jack (2016). Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 21. Charleston, South Carolina: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-35-3.