Inter-Wars

Udet U-1 / U-2

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U-1

In the summer of 1921, a new aviation company was formed using the WWI German flying ace, Ernst Udet’s name. William Pohl from Milwaukee, Henry Hans Herrmann and Erich Scheuermann joined to company to fund the aircraft before wartime treaty restrictions were lifted on aircraft production with the intent of building an inexpensive aircraft for the American market. Designed by Hans Henry Herrmann, the builders produced and flew the U 1 five months before the formation of the Udet Flugzeubau GmbH company. The first flight being in May 1922.

U-1

The design was a single seat low wing, open cockpit monoplane with conventional landing gear. The aircraft was large enough to accommodate two passengers, but did not have enough power for more than one person. Only the one was built.

U-2

The Udet U 2 was a two seat production variant, first flying in March 1923. Four were produced.

U-2

Gallery

Specifications:

U-1
Engine: 1 × Haacke, 16 kW (22 hp)
Length: 5.33 m (17 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 8.9 m (29 ft 2 in)
Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 8 m2 (86 sq ft)
Gross weight: 200 kg (441 lb)
Maximum speed: 180 km/h (112 mph; 97 kn)
Endurance: 2.5 hr
Crew: 1

U-2
Engine: Haacke, 35 hp
Wingspan: 6.9 m
Length: 5.5 m
Seats: 2

U-1
U-2

Udet Flugzeubau GmbH

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German First World War air ace Ernst Udet lent his name to this company, established near Munich in 1921 by American William Pohl. The Udet U-1 single-seat lightplane of 1922 was followed by a two-seat U-2; more powerful U-4; cabin monoplane U-5; another ultralight two-seat U-6; parasol-winged single-seat U-7 Kolibri; small airliner U-8; and an 11 seat high-wing transport U-11 Kondor. Udet left the company in 1925, after agreeing to production of a light training biplane, the Udet U-12 Flamingo, destined to become the company’s best-known aircraft. A two-seat open-cockpit biplane of wooden construction, it was demonstrated throughout the world by Udet. Although the company went out of business in 1925, Flamingo production continued as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG in Germany, as well as in Austria, Hungary and Latvia. It served in many roles, notably as a trainer with the German civil flying clubs and at clandestine Luftwaffe pilot training centres.

20th Century Sky King / Sport

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The 1930 20th Century Sky King, also noted as Sport, was a two-place tandem, high-wing monoplane described as having a monocoque construction fuselage and roughly triangular in cross-section, the vertex being toward the ground.

Only one was built, N318V, priced at $4500.

Engine: Kinner, 100hp
Wingspan: 39’0″
Length: 24’0″
Useful load: 800 lb
Max speed: 125 mph
Stall: 35 mph
Seats: 2