Focke-Wulf Fw 62
| Focke-Wulf Fw 62 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Reconnaissance floatplane |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Focke-Wulf |
| Designer | Erich Arbeitlang |
| First flight | 23 October 1937 |
| Number built | 4 |
The Focke-Wulf Fw 62 was a reconnaissance floatplane, designed and built by Focke-Wulf for use by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Only four were built.
Design and development
In 1936 the RLM, the German ministry of aviation, formulated a requirement for a shipboard seaplane for reconnaissance missions, to replace the Heinkel He 114. The aircraft was to be light, with a maximum weight of 2.5 tons and a crew of one or two, and suitable for catapult launching. Equipment and armament were to be kept to a minimum.[1]
Focke-Wulf competed with the Fw 62, a conventional biplane design. The Fw 62 was of mixed construction and powered by a 705 kW (945 hp) BMW 132K radial engine. The engine was tightly cowled and drove a two-bladed propeller. The biplane wings were of equal span and featured two N-type struts on each side. They could be folded for shipboard storage. Each wing had a plain flap and an aileron.
The first prototype was flown on 23 October 1937. The first and second prototype had twin floats, while the third and fourth had a large central float and smaller outboard stabilizing floats. Official tests began in Travemünde in January 1938. The Fw 62 was a capable aircraft and well liked by the test pilots, but the competing Arado Ar 196 monoplane was both conceptually and structurally much more modern, and was chosen for production.[2]
The Fw 62 prototypes were evaluated for a while longer, mainly because the sprung attachment of the floats, to reduce stress loads on landing, was of interest.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: two
Performance
Armament
1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun in rear cockpit, 4 x 50 kg (110 lb) SC 50 bombs.
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
External links
