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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1392.PDF
OCTOBER 23, 1919 SOME FRIEDRICHSHAFEN "MILESTONES" (Concluded from page 1374) " The F.F. 43 "THIS machine, which is shown in Figs. 24 and 25, was a single-seater fighter, very easy on the controls and quite fast and with a good climb. It also started from and alighted on the sea very easily. By way of armament it was fitted with one, sometimes two, fixed machine-guns. A characteristic feature of this- type was that the pilot sat with his eyes on a level with the rear spar of the top plane, so that he could easily look either over or under the plane, which was a great advantage for fighting in the air. «' The F.F. 44 (Fig. 26) was an experimental machine, fitted with a 240 h.p. Maybach engine., driving the screw through reduction gearing." " The F.F. 48 " This machine was designed as a two-seater fighter and was fitted with a 240 h.p. Maybach engine with direct drive (Fig. 27). The machine was very fast, had an extraordinarily good climb, and yet was very seaworthy. In spite of the heavy motor and the great quantity of fuel (sufficient for 5$ hours) the F.F. 48 was very handy. With the rear machine gun it was possible to fire over the top plane and between the propeller tips and the inner pair of interplane struts. The fixed machine gun was built-in to the right of the engine and was worked by the pilot. "The F.F. 49C represented a considerable improvement on the type F.F. 39. It is shown in Figs. 28 to 30. The main data relating to it are :—Weight empty and without water, 3,260 lbs. ; load, 1,430 lbs. ; total weight, 4,690 lbs. ; length o.a., 38 ft. 2 in. ; span, 55 ft. 6 in. ; float volume, 80 cub. ft. ; speed, 80-87 m.p.h. ; taking-off speed, 50 m.p.h. ; climb to 6,600 ft. in 30 minutes ; duration, 5^ hours. " This machine gives a very robust impression and is at first sight even somewhat clumsy. There is nothing " stream- liny " or light about it, but everything is heavy and strong. It is clearly seen that in the construction of this machine not only the aerodynamical expert but also the sailor has had a say. The object which the constructor had to attain was to produce an aircraft which, with a 220 h.p. engine and a load of about 1,430 lbs., should have the greatest possible sea worthiness, and an experience extending over more than two years has shown that this object has been attained in a most complete manner. " By seaworthiness is understood the capabilities of the seaplane to start, land and taxi under certain conditions of wind and sea with full load, and piloted by an average pilot. As, in spite of the fact that the designer chiefly aimed at seaworthiness—the machine had a very good performance—it shows how thoroughly the construction has been thought out. A speed of 87 m.p.h. and a climb of 6,600 ft. in 25 to 30 minutes must be considered exceptionally good for a seaplane; especially is the latter satisfactory in view of the fact that seaplanes are usually flown at fairly low altitudes. In the air the machine is very comfortable and easy to fly. The manoeuvrability is extraordinarily good, considering that the machine weighs over 2 tons and has a span of 55 ft. 6 ins. " As already mentioned the machine had an opportunity of proving itself during the latter part of the war. It might be further pointed out that on several occasions the crews of other seaplanes have been rescued with this type, and that even with the extra load of the rescued crew the machine has started from a fairly rough sea. Or another example : A machine of this type has floated about in a high sea for seven days at the end of which time the crew—which long ago had been given up as lost—were rescued. The FF. 49C was also used as a reconnaissance machine with one movable machine gun and wireless apparatus. " The F.F. 49B was used purely as a bomber (Fig. 31). In general dimensions and design, the 49B is similar to the F.F. 49C, but in the 49B the pilot occupies the rear seat, while the observer sits in front with the telescopic bomb sights. " The F.F. 59B "As a result of the requirements for reconnaissance machines to be capable of defending themselves against attack, and even under suitable conditions to go over to attack, the F.F. 59C shown in Figs. 32 and 33 was so designed that with the rear machine gun the gunner could fire forward between the first pair of interplane struts and the propeller disc, whilst the fixed machine gun was worked by the pilot. In order to give as large a field of fire as possible to the rear machine gun, the inner front interplane strut was moved outwards slightly farther than the corresponding rear strut, and the wing bracing of the inner bay was entirely omitted. " The F.F. 64 " The success of the ' Wolfchen ' as a ship's 'plane to the auxiliary cruiser ' The Wolf,' led to the construction of the F.F. 64 (Figs. 34 and 35). This machine, which had a 160 h.p. Mercedes engines, has been specially designed to be easily launched from the ship. In order to facilitate storage and launching, the wings are made to fold back, the hinges being just above the floats. The machine can also be easily dismantled and erected without its rigidity, re liability and seaworthiness being impaired. " As a result of the very extensive experience of seaplane construction for War purposes, the Friedrichshafen aircraft works on Lake Constance and its branch factory at Warne- miinde are in a position to, and are making every effort to, take up the construction of seaplanes for commercial pur poses. As the firm has up till now chiefly devoted its ener gies to the construction of seaworthy seaplanes, it will be seen" that it is in a better position than many other firms to construct seaworthy commercial and sporting seaplanes of all types. Especially suitable for this purpose would be the types which have proved themselves during the war, such as F.F. 49C, 33j(S), 33L, 41A, and 64. The type F.F. 49C is, it will be seen from the particulars given above, especially suitable for commercial work. The useful load of 1,430 lbs. may be divided up in different ways, according to the purpose for which the machine is intended, between crew, fuel passengers and mail. For instance, with sufficient fuel for 3i hours over 600 lbs. of useful load could be carried. For passenger carrying it would be easy to provide seating accommodation, either open or closed, enabling the machine to carry two or possibly three passengers in addition to the pilot. " Seaworthiness means safety. Safety is one of the chief considerations for a commercial aeroplane. Since the sea worthiness of this type has never, in spite of the greatest efforts, been beaten by the machines of any other firm, it would appear that also in post-war competition it will be one of the most suitable types and difficult to beat. Much the same may be said about the lower-powered machines FF. 33J, F.F. 33S and F.F. 64. Especially would the latter machine offer great advantages for commercial work to ship owners for carrying on board as a ship's 'plane. For instance, it would be possible without going into port, or in other words without any appreciable loss of time, to put ashore or to take on board single passengers or mail. Or, before arriving at the port of destination an officer could be sent ashore in the machine with the ship's papers, thus not only saving time but possibly also making a considerable profit on goods carried through being first in. Also the passenger who is in a hurry can be sent on ahead in the machine, thus shortening his time of crossing by as much as 10 hours. On the other hand, the machine can fetch mail from ashore so that the mail can be on board the ship several hours before she reaches port. The machine can be employed to assist in navigation on approach ing the coast in bad weather, and it can also be utilised for flying ahead of the ship, spotting for floating mines. In case of accident it may possibly be used for obtaining assistance quickly. Also from the land, the machine can be used with advantage. For instance, a merchant could be flown out to meet the incoming ship, which is carrying an agent, so that all the business could be transacted by the time the ship arrived in port, thus beating the competitors who have re mained ashore. For use by salvage companies it would be possible to use the seaplane for taking an engineer to the place of the stranding in the shortest possible time, where he could photograph the stranded ship and even, if the sea is not too rough, alight and go on board the wrecked ship, so that the salvage contract could be completed before a com petitor could arrive by steamer in the ordinary way. F.F. 33L is very suitable for practice flying for young pilots, and would make a good sporting machine. It is light and very comfort able to fly and requires little storage space, while being easy to dismantle and erect. All of which are qualities that make it specially suitable as a sporting machine for the private owner. " If it is a question of carrying relatively great loads at lower speeds, a machine similar to the type F.F. 41A or to the type F.F. 33, with two 260 h.p. Mercedes engines, would be suitable." 1394
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