This small biplane of generally Farman-like configuration was built in Pressburg, Austria-Hungary (today Bratislava, Slovakia). The elevators and the ailerons were operated by a lever, while the rudder was operated by a separate lever. It was powered by a German-built 25 hp 3-cylinder engine, driving a propeller of 1.8 m diameter.
Engine: 25 hp
Prop diameter: 1.8 m
Span: 6.5 m
Length: 7.5 m
Wing area: 25 sq.m
Take-off weight: 250 kg
The 1912 Frontier Iron Works A-2 was a V-8 water cooled aero engine. It produced 55hp from 507.84ci with a dry weight of (cast iron cyl jackets) 315lb, or (copper cyl jackets) 292lb.
Built 1911-12, the Frontier Iron Works A-1 was an 8-cylinder, inline water-cooled aero engine. With a dry weight of 175lb, it produced 60 to 70hp from 253.92ci.
A metal monocoque aircraft kit with 2 seats side by side. The MD-11 can accommodate engines up to 200hp. Built with 2024 T-3 aluminium. First flown in 1993.
The standard kit price in 1996 was US$19,500.
Engine: Franklin, 120 hp.
HP range: 100-180.
Height: 6 ft.
Length: 24.5 ft.
Wing span: 29.5 ft.
Wing area: 155.9 sq.ft.
Weight empty: 925 lbs.
Gross: 1800 lbs.
Speed max: 180 mph.
Cruise: 125 mph.
Range: 875 sm.
Stall: 40 mph.
ROC: 1000 fpm.
Take-off dist: 500 ft.
Landing dist: 400 ft.
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft.
Seats: 2.
Landing gear: tail wheel.
Cabin width: 43 in
Engine: Walter Lom, 140 hp
HP range: 100-200
Fuel capacity: 43 USG
Height: 6.5 ft
Length: 27.5 ft
Wing span: 29.5 ft
Wing area: 177 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1150 lb
Gross weight: 2000 lb
Top speed: 200 mph
Cruise: 150 mph
Stall: 35 mph
Range: 700 sm
Rate of climb: 1000 fpm
Takeoff dist: 500 ft
Landing dist: 400 ft
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: tail
Cabin width: 43 in
Engine: Lycoming
HP range: 150-180
Height: 6.5 ft
Length: 27.5 ft
Wing span: 29.5 ft
Wing area: 177 sq.ft
Fuel capacity: 43 USG
Empty weight: 1150 lb
Gross weight: 2000 lb
Top speed: 200 mph
Cruise: 150 mph
Stall: 35 mph
Range: 700 sm
Rate of climb: 1000 fpm
Takeoff dist: 500 ft
Landing dist: 400 ft
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: tail
Cabin width: 43 in
A single Falcon, large transport biplane, 12 passengers, 2 x 400hp Liberty, was finished mid-1920, but not flown until 1921.
This 20ft-span triplane, designed by George Frisble, was intended for amateur constructors.
In 1954 George Frisble of Pere, Wisconson, test flew his Flea Triplane.
Called the ‘Flea’ by George Frisbee, it is reported to have a top speed of 100 mph and a cruise of 85 mph with a 65 hp engine.
Wingspan: 20 ft
Length: 15 ft
Top speed: 100 mph approx
The first form of the first Friedrichshafen model, FF 1, was distinguished by its central float concept, pusher construction, 3-bay wing and old-style ailerons between the wings.
Friedrichshafen’s only other large bomber design was the N.1, a mammoth single-¬engined biplane which was built in 1917. Virtually a scaled up two seater, the N.1 employed markedly sweptback wings and a composite undercarriage. The sole power came from a 260 hp Mercedes D IVa engine in the nose, resulting in the pilot’s cockpit being located almost halfway back along the narrow fuselage, with a consequent hopeless forward view for landing and takeoff.
The final version of the Friedrichshafen’s G bombers was the G.IV of 1918, which was basically similar to the G.IIIa but had a slightly shorter wing span, a modified and rounded fuselage nose and D.IVa engines mounted in tractor configuration.
The front gunner’s cockpit was dispensed with, leaving the main fuselage snub-¬nosed, and com¬pound tail surfaces, as in the G.IIIa, were employed. One or two examples may have seen limited operational trials, but this is unconfirmed.
Engines: 2 x 260 hp Mercedes D IVa.
Span: 22.6 m (74 ft 1.5 in).
Length: 12 m (39 ft 4.5 in).
Endurance: 5 hrs.
Armament: Bombload up to 1496 kg (3300 lb); 1 Parabellum machine gun in rear.
The G.III bomber was a twin 194kW Mercedes D.IVa engined scaled up version of the G.II which saw much operational service from early 1917. Its wings of increased span incorporated three bays outboard of the motors. The undercarriage comprised two pairs of wheels, with a fifth wheel immediately under the nose gunner’s cockpit the latter assisting any heavily loaded takeoff, but mainly preventing a nose over landing on the crude runways of the period. Construction of the G.III was a typical contemporary mixture of wood, plywood and steel tubing, and the three man crew consisted of a pilot and a ‘bombing officer’ in a side by side cockpit, with two cockpits mounting guns in the nose and mid fuselage connected by an internal passageway for the third crew member. Capable of lifting a 1500 kg (3310 lb) bombload, the main weight of bombs was carried externally below the main nacelle, but internal racks, each for five 10 kg (22 1b) bombs, were located either side of the communicating passage aft of the pilot’s cockpit.
For the final 18 months of the First World War, Friedrichshafen G.IIIs, in company with the better known Gotha G.V bombers, formed the real strength of German heavy bomber units, particularly on the Western Front in France. Used mainly in long¬distance night raids, G.IIIs are known to have attacked such principal targets as Paris, and are believed to have participated in some of the well publicized attacks against Eng-land.
During 1917 Friedrichshafen concentrated on the production of the G.III and G.IIIa with many others being built under contract by Daimler and Hansa. An improved variant was the G.IIIa, built under licence by the Daimler works. This differed from the G.III only in minor structural changes to the tail unit and wing tip configuration.
It is not known how many G.IIIs and G.IIIas were built in total, but more than 330 were produced by the subcontractors.
Span: 23.7 m (77 ft 9 in).
Length: 12.8 m (42 ft).
Endurance: 5 hrs.
Powerplants: 2 x 260 hp Mercedes D IVa
Armament: Bombload up to 1496 kg (3300 lb); 1 Parabellum machine gun in nose; 1 Parabellum machine gun in rear
Maximum speed: 135 km/h (84 mph)
