Engineering:Focke-Wulf A 17

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A 17 Möwe
Focke Wulf A 17 L'Aéronautique November,1928.jpg
Role Airliner
Manufacturer Focke-Wulf
First flight 1927
Primary user Deutsche Luft Hansa
Number built 20

The Focke-Wulf A 17 Möwe (German: "Gull") was an airliner built in Germany in the late 1920s. It was a conventional high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The aircraft provided fully enclosed seating for up to eight passengers and had a separate, fully enclosed flight deck for the two pilots. Most examples flew with Deutsche Luft Hansa, serving until around 1936. In the early 1930s, two A 17s were used for testing the Junkers Jumo 5 diesel engine.

Focke-Wulf A 17 at Berlin-Tempelhof after sustaining storm damage in July 1928

In 1929, an example was built with a BMW VI engine and fitted out for aerial photography and survey work and designated A 21. The cabin was equipped with a darkroom. Later the same year, the BMW engine was used on a further five airliners for Luft Hansa, these being designated A 29.

Variants

  • A 17 - Eight-passenger airliner powered by 420 hp (310 kW) Gnome et Rhône 9Aa Jupiter. One prototype and 11 production aircraft.[1]
    • A 17a - Conversion of A 17 with 480 hp (360 kW) geared Siemens Jupiter VI engine.[2]
    • A 17b - Conversion with Siemens Sh 20u engine. One converted.[3]
    • A 17c - Conversion with 520 hp (390 kW) Junkers Jumo 5C diesel engine. One converted.[3]
  • A 21 Photomöwe - Photographic fitted with BMW VI engine (two built)
  • A 26 - Converted A 17 used as an experimental aircraft by Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (DVL).[3]
  • A 29 - production version of A 17 with BMW VI engine. Five built.[4]

Specifications (A 17a)

Focke-Wulf A 17 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.66

Data from European Transport Aircraft since 1910[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: eight passengers
  • Length: 14.63 m (48 ft 0 in) (tail up)
  • Wingspan: 20.00 m (65 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 62.5 m2 (673 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,450 kg (5,401 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,000 kg (8,818 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Siemens Jupiter VI , 360 kW (480 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 201 km/h (125 mph, 109 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 167 km/h (104 mph, 90 kn)
  • Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Stroud 1966, p. 265–256
  2. Stroud 1966, p. 266
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Stroud Aeroplane Monthly & January 1987, p. 43
  4. Stroud 1966, pp. 268–269