Friedrichshafen FF.33

Last updated

FF.33
Woelfchen 1.jpeg
The "Wölfchen" (Little Wolf) aboard SMS Wolf (1913).
RoleFighter
Manufacturer Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH
First flight1914
Introduction1914
Primary user Kaiserliche Marine
Number builtFF.33E: 180
FF.33L: 135

Friedrichshafen FF.33 was a German single-engined reconnaissance three-bay wing structure biplane, using twin floats, designed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen in 1914 for the Marine-Fliegerabteilung aviation forces of the Kaiserliche Marine.

Contents

Versions

FF.33
Initial production version powered by a Mercedes D.II engine, six built
FF.33b
FF.33 with pilot and observers positions reversed, additional observers-operated machine-gun and powered by 119 kW (160 hp) Maybach inline piston engine, five built.
FF.33e
Main production reconnaissance variant powered by a Benz Bz.III inline engine, longer twin floats, under tail central float removed, and radio transmitter instead of armament, about 180 built.
FF.33f
Scout/Fighter version based on FF.33e with reduced span wings and reduced length but fitted with a machine-gun on a pivoted mount, five built.
FF.33h
FF.33f with aerodynamic refinements, and duplication of wing-bay bracing cables as a safeguard if the observer has to fire his machine-gun forward through the wings, about 50 built.
FF.33j
FF.33e with aerodynamic refinements and the provision of a radio transmitter and receiver.
FF.33l
Main production scout/fighter version, with further aerodynamic improvements and a fixed machine gun, about 130 built
FF.33s
dual-control trainer version
FF.39
Refined version of the FF.33e with a 149 kW (200 hp) Benz Bz.IV engine, 14 built.
FF.49c
Further improved FF.39 with strengthened structures, balanced controls, a radio receiver and transmitter, machine-gun for observer, over 200 built.
FF.49b
Bomber variant of the FF.49c, crew positions reversed, deletion of observers machine-gun and provision to carry a light bombload, 15 built.
FF.59a
Development aircraft based on FF.39 with different tail, one built.
FF.59b
Development aircraft based on FF.39 with different tail, one built.
FF.59c
FF.39 with modified tail unit, wing interplane struts moved outwards and inner-bay bracing wires removed.
C.I
A landplane version of the FF.33l with wheeled landing gear, one built.

Operators

Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Four FF.33Es and four FF.33Ls stationed since 1916 at the German Naval Air Station Peynerdjik near Varna on the Black Sea were transferred in June 1918 to the Bulgarian Navy. They were scrapped in 1920 in accordance with the clauses of the Peace Treaty. [1]
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Finnish Air Force purchased two FF.33Es from Germany in February 1918. The first one arrived on 20 April 1918 to Vaasa and the other one in the summer of 1918. The aircraft wore the German designation numbers 1999 and 1998, which were changed into the FAF designation numbers F16 and F24 (later S58/18 and S73/18). Another FF.33E was purchased from the Germans in Estonia on 26 November 1918. The type was in FAF service between 1918 and 1923.
Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
Kaiserliche Marine
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Navy
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Polish Navy operated three: FF.33E, FF.33H, FF.33L in 1920–1922 [2]
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden

Specifications (FF.33e)

Friedrichshafen FF.33L factory submission Baubeschreibung drawing Friedrichshafen FF.33L dwg.jpg
Friedrichshafen FF.33L factory submission Baubeschreibung drawing

Data from Thulinista Hornetiin - 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita, [3] Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH : Diplom-Ingenieur Theodor Kober [4]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.41</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.41a was a large, German-built, three-seat, twin-engine floatplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen in 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.49</span> Type of aircraft

Friedrichshafen FF.49 was a German, two-seat, single-engine float-plane designed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen in 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen G.I</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen G.I was a prototype heavy bomber aircraft that was built in Germany by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen in 1915. It was Karl Gehlen's first design for the company, and although it was not produced in quantity, it provided the foundation for the later, highly successful bombers culminating in the G.III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.31</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.31 was a two-seat prototype German maritime reconnaissance floatplane built by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen during the First World War. Although primarily intended for reconnaissance duties, the aircraft was provided with a machine gun to engage other aircraft. Although it was satisfactory for its intended mission, it lacked the performance necessary for use as a fighter. A pair of aircraft were built in 1915 and it was not accepted for production by the Imperial German Navy's Naval Air Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.40</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.40 was a German three-seat floatplane of the 1910s produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.64</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.64 was a German two-seat biplane floatplane of the 1910s produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.48</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.48 was a German two-seat floatplane fighter of the 1910s produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.60</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.60 was a German experimental floatplane produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.35</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.35 was a German three-seat torpedo bomber floatplane built during World War I by Friedrichshafen Flugzeugbau. Only one prototype was built in 1916 and it saw limited operational use during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.71</span> German civilian biplane

The Friedrichshafen FF.71 was a German biplane floatplane produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.1</span> Seaplane of the 1910s built in Germany

The Friedrichshafen FF.1 was a German experimental floatplane built in 1912. It was the first aircraft designed and built by the newly established Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen. Only one prototype was constructed and it set a German national record for endurance in 1913 before crashing in early 1914.

The Friedrichshafen FF.2 was a floatplane built in Germany in 1913. It was derived from a design by the Swiss pilot and designer René Grandjean. Only one aircraft was built before the design was reworked into the Friedrichshafen FF.4 the following year.

The Friedrichshafen FF.4 was a seaplane built in Germany in the early 1910s.

The Friedrichshafen FF.8 was a seaplane built in Germany in the early 1910s.

The Friedrichshafen FF.11 was a flying boat built in Germany in the early 1910s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.17</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.17 was an experimental floatplane built in Germany in 1914. Originally designed and flown with a single main float and two outriggers as the FF.17, it was later modified as the FF.17b with two floats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.19</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.19 was an unarmed maritime reconnaissance floatplane built for the Imperial German Navy's Naval Air Service that was produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen. Built in small numbers, the aircraft first flew in 1914 and saw service during the early months of World War I, mostly conducting maritime patrols over the North Sea, although they did attack British ships participating in the Raid on Cuxhaven at the end of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrichshafen FF.63</span> Type of aircraft

The Friedrichshafen FF.63 was a German experimental floatplane produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

The Friedrichshafen FF.67 was a German experimental floatplane produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen.

References

  1. Y.Milanov: "The aviation in Bulgaria in the wars from 1912 to 1945, Vol.I". Sveti Gueorgi Pobedonosetz, Sofia, 1995 (in Bulgarian)
  2. Andrzej Morgała (1985), Samoloty w polskim lotnictwie morskim (Polish naval aviation aircraft), Warsaw: WKiŁ, ISBN   83-206-0478-8, p. 10-12
  3. Timo Heinonen (1992). Thulinista Hornetiin - 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita (in Finnish). Tikkakoski: Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo. ISBN   951-95688-2-4.
  4. Kober, Theodor von; Borzutzki, Siegfried. Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH : Diplom-Ingenieur Theodor Kober (in German) (1. Aufl ed.). Burbach. pp. 106–107. ISBN   978-3927513600.

Bibliography