Fieseler F 2 Tiger
| Fieseler F 2 Tiger | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Aerobatic plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
April 1932 |
| Commissioning: |
1932 |
| Production time: |
1931/32 |
| Number of pieces: |
1 |
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The Fieseler F2 "Tiger" was the first powered aircraft that was designed, built and flown in by Fieseler Flugzeugbau Kassel. The single-engine biplane was designed exclusively for aerobatics under competitive conditions. After approval, it received the D-2200 registration. It remained unique.
history
Gerhard Fieseler made his living in the late 1920s and early 1930s as an aerobatic pilot. He was one of the highest paid aerobatic pilots in the world. With the income he was able to finance his aircraft construction company. In order to remain competitive, Fieseler had to have a new machine with an even better performance than that of the F1 Tiger Tern . Since other aircraft construction companies did not want to make a one-off production for him, he was forced to try it in his own company. Fieseler saw no future for his company in the construction of gliders anyway. So in 1931 the entry into engine aircraft construction began with this project. Fieseler's information, which he had gained from his experience with the F 1 “Tiger Tern”, was implemented by his designer Arnold. He had already successfully designed gliders in the company; the statics was carried out by Dipl.-Ing. Schüttkowski created. This is how the F 2 "Tiger" was born. Fieseler chose the name Tiger for the aircraft as a reminder of his nickname, which he received on the Balkan front during the First World War. He always spoke of the or my tiger.
construction
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The heart of the machine was the built-in Walter Pollux I motor. It was the latest product from the Walter & Co. engine factory in Prague and was developed from Walter Castor , who had already proven himself in the F1 "Tiger Tern" . The Pollux I developed around 295 kW (400 hp) in the altitude range up to 1000 m, which is important for aerobatics. This gave the pilot a large reserve of power.
The aircraft was designed as a composite construction. It was a cantilevered biplane , the continuous wings of which were connected to one another in a torsionally rigid manner by N-shaped handles. A special feature was the choice of a symmetrical wing profile. As a result, the flight characteristics of the machine in the normal and in the supine position were approximately the same. In the wooden construction of the wings, a front and a rear spar were box-built and very generously dimensioned. In addition, the ribs in the area of the fabric covering have been set very closely for better shaping. Of course, all of this had a negative effect on weight.
The fuselage with tail unit was built as a tubular steel construction. The "Pollux" engine, weighing around 330 kg, was carried by a short, removable tubular steel bracket. In order to ensure the maneuverability of the machine even at low speeds and the effectiveness of the rudder over the entire speed range, an attempt was made to bring all 'masses' towards the center of gravity. The arrangement of the engine, tanks and driver's seat fulfilled this goal. In order to maintain favorable flow conditions on the fuselage and in front of the tail unit, longitudinal struts made of dural tube were used. This achieved an approximately round cross-section of the fuselage. The tail unit had a special feature. Elevator and rudder each had their own profile, which significantly increased the effectiveness of the rudder. The shape of the rudder was based on experience in aerobatics. The fuselage and tail unit received a line covering.
The chassis has also been well adapted aerodynamically. The barrel axis was divided; the main legs and all struts were clad in teardrop shapes. The wheels were also given a teardrop shape on the back, which gave the machine an unmistakable appearance. All struts of the machine have also been aerodynamically adjusted.
Flight characteristics
In April 1932, Gerhard Fieseler began to fly in the F 2 "Tiger" at the Kassel-Waldau airfield. He found out that this machine was unstable around all three flight axes . This characteristic required flying skills from the pilot. The performance, on the other hand, was significantly improved compared to the F1 "Tiger Tern"; By concentrating the masses in the direction of the center of gravity, it was possible for Fieseler to fly an aerobatic figure he had invented with the 'fan turn'. Also with the aeronautically demanding 'steered role', which has to be flown with the help of all oars, the good controllability and effectiveness of the oars of the F 2 "Tiger" was shown. The machine had good spin characteristics, so it could easily be brought into a spin but just as easily brought out again. On the ground, the aircraft could be steered very well while taxiing with the assistance of the oil-hydraulic wheel brakes. Due to the low wing loading and the good aerodynamic shape, the machine tended to hover on landing before touchdown. A three-point landing was easily possible. The chassis, which was placed far forward, prevented a rollover even in poor terrain.
Gerhard Fieseler needed around 100 hours of flight to master the machine properly. This was followed by a series of successes in national and international aerobatic competitions. In July 1932 Fieseler took the plane at the airport Dübendorf in Zurich at the International Air Meeting Zurich , where he aerobatics competition victory before a 1 Tiger Swallow Fieseler F won. The highlight and also the end of his aerobatic career was the victory with the F2 "Tiger" at the Coupe Mondiale d'Arcobatie Aérienne, which is regarded as the world aerobatic championship, on June 11, 1934 in Paris.
The constructive solutions introduced into the F2 "Tiger" gave sport aircraft construction new impulses. For a freestyle program in aerobatics, the aircraft's high take-off weight of more than a ton had a negative effect. This has been confirmed in the development of aerobatic aircraft up to the present day.
Whereabouts
The Ministry of Aviation wanted to buy the F2 "Tiger" in autumn 1934 in order to make it available to an aerobatic pilot worthy of funding. After a few pilots had tried their hand at the aircraft and then renounced further use, the D-2200 was given a place of honor in the German Aviation Collection with only 200 flight hours, i.e. almost in new condition . In 1942 the F2 "Tiger" was destroyed in a bomb attack there.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | - |
| length | 6.85 m |
| span | 8.16 m |
| height | 2.80 m |
| Wing area | 23.00 m² |
| Empty mass | 800 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 1200 kg |
| Cruising speed | 210 km / h |
| Top speed | 240 km / h |
| Landing speed | 80 km / h |
| Range | 750 km |
| Engine | a Walter "Pollux I" ; 420 PS (approx. 310 kW) |
See also
literature
- Gerhard Fieseler: My path in the sky. The builder of the Fieseler Storch and the V 1 tells his life . Bertelsmann Verlag, Munich 1979, ISBN 3-570-01192-5 (autobiography).
- Fieseler magazine. Born 1938, ZDB -ID 1293906-7 .
- Technical data from documents from Fieseler Flugzeugbau Kassel
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ The Zurich Meeting. (PDF) Circuit of the Alps (Commercial Aircraft). In: FLIGHT, AUGUST 5, 1932. Flight International , August 5, 1932, p. 726 , accessed on October 24, 2018 (English): “The highest number of points (99) was scored by Gerhard Fieseler on his F.2 "Tiger" (360-hp Walter). Second was Dr. Gullman on a Raab-Katzenstein "Tigerschwalbe" (240 Walter), with 87 points, and third Gerd Achgelis on his Focke-Wulf "Kiebitz" (110 Siemens) with 84 points. "