Friedrichshafen FF.43

The Friedrichshafen FF.43 was a German single-seat floatplane fighter of the 1910s produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

FF.43
Role Floatplane fighter
Manufacturer Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen
First flight 8 September 1916
Number built 1

Development and design

Designed for defence of the floatplane bases, the FF.43 was a biplane powered by a Mercedes D.III inline piston engine driving a tractor propeller. It was armed with two 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 forward-firing machine guns. Only one aircraft was built.

Specifications

Data from Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 8.55 m (28 ft 1 in)
  • Upper wingspan: 9.92 m (32 ft 7 in)
  • Lower wingspan: 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 31 m2 (330 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 798 kg (1,759 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,078 kg (2,377 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 163 km/h (101 mph, 88 kn)
  • Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
  • Time to altitude:
1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 6 minutes
2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 9 minutes
3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 22 minutes

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine guns

See also

Related lists

References

  1. Kober, Theodor von; Borzutzki, Siegfried (1993). Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH (in German) (1. Aufl ed.). Burbach. pp. 136–137. ISBN 978-3927513600.

Bibliography

  • Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon (2001) [1994]. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown (Revised and Updated ed.). London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-84065-269-1.
  • 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.

Further reading

  • Herris, Jack (2012). German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 2. Charleston (S.C.): Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-09-4.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
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