| Fw 44 Stieglitz | |
|---|---|
 A Focke-Wulf Fw 44J in 2008 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Biplanetrainer |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Focke-Wulf |
| Built by | FMA |
| History | |
| First flight | Late summer 1932[1] |
TheFocke-Wulf Fw 44Stieglitz (Goldfinch) is a twin-seatbiplane designed and produced by theGerman aircraft manufacturerFocke-Wulf. It was the company's first major international success.[2]
The Fw 44 had a relatively conventional layout for a biplane, possessing a pair of opencockpits that were arranged intandem; both cockpits were equipped with flight controls and instrumentation. The aircraft had straight untapered wings, fixedtailwheel landing gear, and was typically powered by aSiemens-Halske Sh 14radial engine. It was furnished withailerons on both upper and lower wings, but did not useflaps. The design team was headed byKurt Tank.[3] Intended for use as a pilottraining and sports aircraft, the firstprototype conducted itsmaiden flight in the latter half of 1932; while initially proving to be troublesome, remedial modifications and design tweaks quickly adapted the Fw 44 into a suitable aircraft for performingaerobatic manoeuvres, a feat which numerous noted pilots took advantage of.
The aircraft quickly garnered substantial orders from flight schools and flying clubs, both in Germany and abroad. The rate of orders was such that not only did Focke-Wulf establish a second factory but multiplelicences were issued to other companies, leading to the Fw 44 being produced in several other countries. TheFw 44C had been considered to be the definitive version of the aircraft, it was powered by aSiemens-Halske Sh 14radial engine. On several occasions, the type saw key military use; theRepublic of China Air Force had their aircraft adapted for frontline combat during theSecond Sino-Japanese War. TheLuftwaffe operated numerous Fw 44s, both before and during theSecond World War.
During the mid-1920s, the recently formed German aircraft manufacturerFocke-Wulf commenced limited production of their first civil-orientated aircraft, such as theFocke-Wulf A 16.[4] In 1931, the company benefitted from two key events, themerger of rival aircraft manufacturerAlbatros Flugzeugwerke with Focke-Wulf and the arrival of the capableaeronautical engineerKurt Tank as the leader of the firm's design department. In this capacity, Tank played a key role in the development of what would become the Fw 44, which commenced that same year.[4]
The Fw 44 was a single-baystrut-and-wire-braced twin-seat biplane intended for use as a primary trainer and sporting aircraft.[5] It had equal span wings which had slightsweepback,stagger, anddihedral. The lower wings attached directly to the bottom of the fuselage, the upper wings were connected to the upper fuselage via struts, and a set of N-shaped struts ran between the upper and lower wings on either side of the aircraft.[6] Wood was used for the wing's structural members, such aspinewoodspars andribs; a combination offabric andplywood was used to cover the wing. The structure of the fuselage comprisedweldedsteel tubing; metal panels covered the forward fuselage while a fabric covering was used for elements aft of the rear cockpit.[6]
The tail unit featured mixed construction, being covered with both fabric and plywood; theangle of incidence was adjustable mid-flight.[6] To reduce the risk of a fire within the engine bay, abulkhead composed ofduralumin was present behind the tubular engine mount. The fuselage contained two fuel tanks, the lower of which was used during inverted flight; both tanks were forward of the bulkhead, as was a third tank containing lubricating oil.[7] Both of the aircraft's two cockpits, which were open, were compatible with seat-typeparachutes. Just aft of the rear cockpit was a luggage locker that was accessed by folding down the seat.[8]
During late summer 1932, the firstprototype performed itsmaiden flight.[1] Early test flights were troubled by a range of technical issues, compelling a detailed redesign of the aircraft.[6] Following extensive modifications and testing, it was determined that the redesigned aircraft not only possessed favourable flight characteristics but was also capable of withstanding considerable stresses; these qualities proved to be quite beneficial for conductingaerobatic manoeuvres. Several noted pilots opted to perform aerial displays using the type, such asGerd Achgelis,Enrst Edet, andEmil Kopf, the latter's aircraft bore the registrationD-EMIL.[6]
Much of the early demand for the type came from flight schools and flying clubs; the order numbers were such that Focke-Wulf was able to establish a second factory to produce the type.[6] Customers were not only confined to the German market; numerous nations inSouth America,Europe, andAsia would purchase the type, some opting to establishlocal production of the Fw 44 in order to meet their needs. Multiple variants of the aircraft were developed, many of which were for these export customers.[6]
TheFw 44B was the second production version of the aircraft; it was powered by anArgus As 8 four-cylinder invertedinline air-cooled engine, capable of producing up to 90 kW (120 hp).[1] Thecowling for this engine gave the plane a more slender and aerodynamic nose.[6] The definitive version of the aircraft was theFw 44C, which was powered by aSiemens-Halske Sh 14radial engine instead.[6]
The last series version was theFw 44J, which was sold or built under license in several countries around the world.
Nineteen Fw 44s (Twelve Fw 44Fs and seven Fw 44Js) were purchased by the provincial government of Canton (Guangdong) in 1935–36, for use by its own air force.[9] The Canton Air Force was incorporated into the mainNationalist Air Force in July 1936, as Canton lost its independence.[10] These were modified for combat missions and participated in the early stage of theSecond Sino-Japanese War, all are believed to have been lost in action.[citation needed]
Many Fw 44Cs were operated by theLuftwaffe; this included during theSecond World War, with the Flugzeugführerschulen and one or two Flugkriegsschulen.[2][8]
Between 1937 and 1942 theFábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) ofArgentina had built 190 units of the FW-44J Stieglitz. It was powered by a domestically built version of the Siemens Bramo Sh-14 engine called the I. Ae. Sh-14. The Fw 44Js were destined for the Argentine Military Aviation School and for numerous aero clubs for use as training aircraft.
In 1944, the Instituto Aerotécnico received the request to experiment with the construction of the Fw 44J, but using purely national woods instead of importing them, following the pattern initiated by the development of theI.Ae. 22 "DL" trainer. The project was namedI.Ae. 23. It was known as "Wooden Focke-Wulf" (Focke-Wulf de Madera in Spanish).[12][13][14] The I.Ae. 23 flew for the first time on July 7, 1945.[15] The plane was used for training and aerobatics. It was configured with a Kodakphoto gun. Despite its success, only one was built, as its design was surpassed by other machines of British origin that were acquired in 1946.
The aircraft was produced under license in 1937–1942 period[16]
– license production
Data fromFlugzeug Typenbuch 1941[21]
General characteristics
Performance
