The first aeroplane with a circular wing, the Spheroplan, was built in Russia by A.G.Ufimtsev in 1909-10. Ufimtsev practised controlling the Spheroplan in numerous runs on the ground, but the tests were never completed because of the damage done to the apparatus by a sudden storm.
Era
UFAG C.I / 161 / Neuschloss-Lichtig NL Sportplane
The UFAG C.I was a military reconnaissance aircraft produced in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, by the Ungarische Flugzeugfabrik Abteil Gesellschaft (UFAG). It was introduced in April 1918, and was widely used on the Italian Front in the final months of World War I.
The UFAG C.I incorporated the best features of the Brandenburg C.II(U) with single-bay wings and ‘I’ strut inter-plane bracing, which was replaced wing conventional steel-tube interplane struts in production aircraft. More manoeuvrable than the Phönix C.I, the C.I had good performance, but suffered from a few odd handling characteristics.
Production of the C.I continued after the Armistice by MARE and was also built by the Neuschloss-Lichtig factory as the NL Sportplane.
The C.I was widely used by the KuKLFT on the Italian front by at least 30 Fliks. The C.I was also used post WWI by the Hungarian Red Airborne Corps as well as the clandestine Hungarian Legügyi Hivatal. Ex-military C.Is were also converted for civil use and as mailplanes.
Twenty UFAG C.I were captured from the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919 and used by the Romanian Air Corps.
Variants:
Ufag 161.01
First prototype 8.92 m (29.3 ft) span, 200 hp (150 kW) Hiero 6, ‘I’ type inter-plane struts.
Ufag 161.02
Second prototype, 230 hp (170 kW) Hiero 6, ‘I’ type inter-plane struts.
Ufag C.I
(series 161.03 to 161.22) Production by Ufag, 9.12 m (29.9 ft) span, 230 hp (170 kW) Hiero 6, twin inter-plane struts.
Ufag C.I
(series 161.31 to 161.250) Production by Ufag, 9.5 m (31 ft) span, 230 hp (170 kW) Hiero 6, twin inter-plane struts.
Ufag C.I(Ph)
(series 123.01 to 123.40) Production by Phönix, 9.12 m (29.9 ft) span, 230 hp (170 kW) Hiero 6, twin inter-plane struts.
UFAG 60.01
an improved C.I which would evolve into the UFAG 60.03 / C.II.
Specifications:
C.I second series 161.23 – 161.250
Powerplant: 1 × Hiero 6, 170 kW (230 hp)
Propeller: 2-bladed wooden fixed-pitch
Upper wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
Lower wingspan: 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 26.3 m2 (283 sq ft)
Length: 7.41 m (24 ft 4 in)
Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Empty weight: 750 kg (1,653 lb)
Gross weight: 1,150 kg (2,535 lb)
Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
Range: 350 km (220 mi, 190 nmi)
Endurance: 3 hours
Service ceiling: 4,900 m (16,100 ft)
Guns: 1 x 8 mm (0.315 in) Schwarzlose machine-gun forward-firing fixed machine guns; 1 x 8 mm (0.315 in) Schwarzlose machine-gun in trainable rear cockpit mounting
Bombs: 12 x 12 kg (26 lb) bombs (161.131 onwards)
Crew: 2
UFAG / Ungarische Flugzeugfabrik A.G. / MARE / Magyar Repülőgépgyár Rt.
It was not until 1912 that the first Hungarian aircraft factory was born in Budapest, at the corner of Hungária körút and Váci út, with the cooperation of Ganz-Danubius, the Weiss Manfréd factory, the Hitelbank and the financial wizard Camilio Castiglioni, who had also helped BMW to prosper. The company was given the creative name of First Hungarian Airship and Aircraft Factory and, lacking its own types, started to produce biplane Lohner aircraft.
The company’s first manager was the twenty-four-year-old Viktor Wittmann, who in 1910, with a degree in mechanical engineering, set off for Reims, France, to study European aircraft manufacturing. The following year, he was already testing aircraft for the Monarchy’s air force at Aspern airbase in Austria. In May 1915, during a demonstration flight of one of the factory’s military aircraft, he lost control of the plane and crashed from an altitude of 30 to 40 metres.
However, the first and earliest site of the factory did not have an airport, so most of the aircraft parts had to be transported to Rákosmező, where the airplanes were assembled and tested.
In the light of this, and the increasing demand for aircraft, the company grew rapidly, outgrowing its available space. They found a new site in Albertfalva, on the outer section of Fehérvári út, where there was enough space not only for halls but also for an airport (which was actually just a flat field, as the runways were not paved at the time).
Hansa-Brandenburgische Flugzeug Werke then joined the company’s ownership, and from then the company began to produce aircraft under the names MARE (Magyar Repülőgépgyár Rt.) and UFAG (Ungarische Flugzeugfabrik Aktien Gesellschaft), including an increasing number of German-designed Hansa-Brandenburg C.I. aircraft, which accounted for a quarter of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s First World War fleet, 1,258 of them.
These were still canvas-covered, wood-frame and plywood machines and were powered by 160, 200 and 230 hp Hiero engines manufactured by UFAG. They were armed with one or two Schwarzlose machine guns, redesigned for aircraft, with greatly increased rate of fire.
U.F.A. 1909 triplane
The 1909 U.F.A. triplane was designed and built by Union Francaise Aerienne in France.
Span: 26’3″
U.F.A. 1909 monoplane
The 1909 U.F.A. biplane was designed and built by Union Francaise Aerienne in France.
UFA / Union Francaise Aerienne
Built aircraft circa 1909
Uetz U4M Pelikan
In 1964 Uetz Flugzeugbau a redesigned four-seater, the U4M Pelikan, also went into production.
Uetz U2V
Uetz Flugzeugbau developed an improved version of the French Jodel D119 two-seat lightplane known as the Uetz U2V, first flown 1962. Series production began in 1964.
Uetz Flugzeugbau
Switzerland
This company developed an improved version of the French Jodel D119 two-seat lightplane known as the Uetz U2V, first flown 1962. Series production began in 1964. In that year a redesigned four-seater, the U4M Pelikan, also went into production.
Udet U.12 Flamingo
Udet left the company in 1925, after agreeing to production of a light training biplane, the Udet U-12 Flamingo, designed by Hans Herrmann, destined to become the company’s best-known aircraft.
A two-seat open-cockpit biplane of wooden construction the U 12 was a conventional, single-bay biplane of wooden construction with the wings braced by large I-struts. The pilot and instructor or passenger sat in tandem.
First flown on April 7, 1925, it was demonstrated throughout the world by Udet. The U 12 proved extremely popular and sold well, due in no small part to Ernst Udet’s spectacular aerobatics routines while flying the aircraft. One particularly acclaimed part of his act included swooping down towards the airfield and picking up a handkerchief with the tip of one wing.
The popularity of this aircraft was insufficient to rescue Udet Flugzeugbau from its dire financial position and the company went out of business in 1925, but when the company’s assets were taken over by the state of Bavaria to form BFW in 1926, production of the U 12 soon resumed in earnest, as well as in Austria, Hungary and Latvia. BFW-built U 12s were exported to Austria, Hungary and Latvia, and later built under licence in these countries as well.
It served in many roles, notably as a trainer with the German civil flying clubs and at clandestine Luftwaffe pilot training centres. Other operators were the Austrian Air Force (1927–1938), Hungarian Air Force, and Latvian Air Force.
In the summer of 1928 two German pilots from the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke demonstrated the U-12 Flamingo in Latvia. Originally the Latvian military was considering building Avro trainers, but the license fees being demanded were excessive and this idea was dropped. Building a locally designed trainer at A.S.Christine Backman seemed to be the next best solution, until the Udet Flamingo was seen on the demonstration flights, when it immediately became the trainer of choice, equipped with dual controls with the instructor sitting in the front and the student behind.
One aircraft was purchased by Latvia and then in the summer of 1929, A.S.Christine Backman obtains a contract to build 10 U-12bs and a complete set of plans is provided by BFW. While Latvian manufacturers had no difficulty with the wooden parts (Latvian pine and birch plywood were quite suitable) they initially had to buy some of the Duralumin parts from BFW. However, the aircraft completed by the Aviation Regiment Workshops had the parts produced locally. The Hugo Heine propellers, instruments and wheels were ordered directly from their German manufacturers. In the autumn of 1929 A.S.Christine Backman begins construction of the U-12 Flamingos at their new facility in Bisumuiza, a suburb of Riga.
By the summer of 1930 the Flamingo aircraft are completed and delivered to the Military Aviation School. The Flamingo aircraft were flown for the first time by the Military on July 25, 1930. The pilots were the recent graduates of flight school – Jenkevics, Ozolins, Grave, Sapratnieks, Sleiters and Krastins. Some of the Latvian Flamingos were clear varnished, carrying a black number on their silver rudder, while others were dark green overall with a white outlined black number on the rudder.
In 1936 two of the Flamingos are modified to accept a full blind-flying panel and fitted with a hood over the rear cockpit to make them suitable for instrument flight training and, in an effort to standardize aircraft types by code, the Flamingos as designated as type A-1.
As the plane was used for the training of young pilots in the training squadron (LR Air Force training aircraft had a special sign – two white stripes around the fuselage), there were many accidents. only one accident, 4 November 1935, led to death, when U-12b #95 collided with AA Bristol Buldog and broke apart killing Alexander Hvastkov, Lieutenant Janis Janis and Sergeant Putniņš Ravinsh.
In the late 30’s three were passed to flying clubs with Latvian designations YL-SBX, ABV, ABY. The last of the Flamingos were still flying in the spring of 1940, where they were being utilized as Aeroclub trainers and were training the 5th graduating class at Kalnciems (they had been gifts from the Aviation Division). After the Soviet occupation, all (or most) of the Flamingos were destroyed when the building in which they were stored caught fire and burned to the ground.
Gallery
Latvian built U-12 accidents –
76
August 4, 1930 – crashed (pilot: vltn. Lakstigala)
April 30, 1931 – crashed (pilot: Goldbergs)
June 16, 1931 – crashed (pilot: ltn. Peculis)
77
Experimentally fitted with the Czech Walter Mars 145-hp radial engine, but it was later replaced with the standard SH12.
August 12, 1930 – crashed (flight instructor vltn.Trejs with student, Salmins)
86
Sept. 15, 1930 – crashed (pilot: Nikolajs Balodis)
87
June 2, 1931 – crashed (pilot: Greizis)
August 31, 1931 – crashed (pilot: Bungss)
89
May 31, 1931 – flown by J.Indans in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
Dec. 29, 1931 – crashed (pilot: plkv. J.Indans, passenger vltn. Greizis)
95
1935 – the Aviation Division workshops builds an additional Flamingo, assigned the number 95.
July 1, 1935 – #95 is test flown and approved by capt. A.Dzenitis.
November 4, 1935 – midair collision with Bristol Bulldog #81. Three fatalities. This was the only fatality associated with the Flamingo.
No original aircraft are known to exist. An airworthy replica was kept at the Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany, but crashed at the 2013 Tannkosh event. This example has a Sh 14 engine, a later, more powerful version of the Siemens-Halske engines fitted to original U 12s.
Production:
Udet Flugzeugbau, Ramersdorf – 35 +
Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG – 150
Fliegerwerft Thalerhof – 20
Central Repair Workshops, Hungary – 40
Manfred Weiss, Hungary – 40
AS. Chr. Backman, Latvia – 10 (includes #s 76, 77, 86, 87, 89)
Aviation Regiment Workshop, Latvia – 2 (#s 95 and 96)
Variants:
Germany
U 12a: main production version with Siemens-Halske Sh 11 engine
U 12W: float-equipped U 12a (Wasser—”water”) with Sh 12 engine
U 12b: version strengthened for aerobatics and with improved wing profile
U 12c: advanced trainer with reduced wing area
U 12d: U 12b with Siemens-Halske Sh 12 engine
U 12e: U 12c with Siemens-Halske Sh 12 engine
Austria
20 aircraft produced by Fliegerwerft Thalerhof
U 12H: standard U 12a (Holz—”wood”)
U 12S: U 12a with redesigned fuselage of fabric-covered steel tube construction (Stahl—”steel”).
U 12Ö: alternative designation for U 12S (Österreich—”Austria”)
Hungary
Forty aircraft produced by KRG and another 40 by Manfred Weiss Works. Some examples armed and used for fighter or bomber training
Hungária I: similar to U 12a with N-type interplane struts
Hungária II: similar to U 12a with N-type interplane struts
Hungária III: similar to U 12a with N-type interplane struts, propeller spinner and Townend ring
Hungária IV: similar to U 12a. Only Hungarian-built version with I-type interplane struts
Hungária V: similar to U 12a with N-type interplane struts
Specifications:
Udet U-12 Flamingo
Engine: Siemens Halske Sh 11
Propeller: 2.36 m
Wingspan: 9.96 m
Wingarea: 23.97 sq.m
Length: 7.47 m
Height: 2.80
Ailerons area: 2.48 sq.m
Tailplane area: 1.80 sq.m
Elevator area: 1.50 sq.m
Fin area: 0.70 sq.m
Rudder area: 1.00 sq.m
Main track: 1.60 m
Mainplane dihedral: 3°
Mainplane sweepback: 3º
Empty weight: 525 kg
Flying weight: 800 kg
Fuel capacity: 96 lt
Wingload: 33.5 kg/sq.m
Max speed: 140 km/h
Cruising speed: 115 km/h
Landing speed: 75 km/h
Climb rate: 102 m/min
Climb to 1000 m: 7 min. 15 sec
Climb to 3000 m: 9 min
Service ceiling: 3350 m
Udet U-12 Flamingo
Engine: Siemens Halske Sh 5
Wingspan: 9.96 m
Wingarea: 23.97 sq.m
Length: 7.47 m
Height: 2.80
Ailerons area: 2.48 sq.m
Tailplane area: 1.80 sq.m
Elevator area: 1.50 sq.m
Fin area: 0.70 sq.m
Rudder area: 1.00 sq.m
Main track: 1.60 m
Mainplane dihedral: 3°
Mainplane sweepback: 3º
Empty weight: 500 kg
Flying weight: 775 kg
Fuel capacity: 96 lt
Max speed: 134 km/h
Cruising speed: 110 km/h
Landing speed: 75 km/h
Service ceiling: 3000 m
Range: 450 km
Udet U-12 Flamingo
Engine: Siemens Halske Sh 12
Wingspan: 9.96 m
Wingarea: 23.97 sq.m
Length: 7.47 m
Height: 2.80
Ailerons area: 2.48 sq.m
Tailplane area: 1.80 sq.m
Elevator area: 1.50 sq.m
Fin area: 0.70 sq.m
Rudder area: 1.00 sq.m
Main track: 1.60 m
Mainplane dihedral: 3°
Mainplane sweepback: 3º
Empty weight: 550 kg
Flying weight: 800 kg
Fuel capacity: 96 lt
Max speed: 145 km/h
Cruising speed: 115 km/h
Landing speed: 75 km/h
Time to 1000 m: 5 min. 57 sec
Service ceiling: 3800 m
Range: 450 km
Udet U 12 a Flamingo
Engine: Siemens Halske Sh 11, 80 hp 60 kW
Length: 24 ft 6 in / 7.4 m
Height: 9 ft 2 in / 2.8 m
Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in / 10.0 m
Wing area: 258.3 sq.ft / 24.0 sq.m
Max take-off weight: 1764.0 lb / 800.0 kg
Weight empty: 1157 lb / 525.0 kg
Max. payload: 176.4 lb / 80.0 kg
Max. speed: 76 kts / 140 km/h / 87 mph
Landing speed: 40 kts / 75 km/h
Cruising speed: 62 kts / 115 km/h
Initial climb rate: 450 ft/min / 2.3 m/s
Service ceiling: 12,100 ft / 3700 m
Wing load: 6.77 lb/sq.ft / 33.0 kg/sq.m
Range: 243 nm / 450 km / 280 mi
Fuel capacity: 12 gal / 45 lt
Crew: 2
Hungária I
Engine: WM built Sh 12
Span: 10.0 m
Length: 7.4 m
Wing area: 25.0 sq.m
Wing loading: 33.7 kg/sq.m
Empty weight: 590 kg
Loaded weight: 840 kg
Max. speed: 150 km/h
Wing strut formation: N
Armament: 2 x 8 mm Type 26/31 M Gebauer GKM machine guns or 10 – 20 kg bombs
Hungária II
Engine: WM built Sh 12
Span: 10.3 m
Length: 6.9 m
Wing area: 26.0 sq.m
Wing loading: 30.0 kg/sq.m
Empty weight: 547 kg
Loaded weight: 797 kg
Max. speed: 140 km/h
Wing strut formation: N
Armament: 2 x 8 mm Type 26/31 M Gebauer GKM machine guns or 10 – 20 kg bombs
Hungária III
Engine: WM built Sh 12
Span: 10.5 m
Length: 7.7 m
Wing area: 25.0 sq.m
Wing loading: 35.0 kg/sq.m
Empty weight: 595 kg
Loaded weight: 845 kg
Max. speed: 165 km/h
Wing strut formation: N
Armament: 2 x 8 mm Type 26/31 M Gebauer GKM machine guns or 10 – 20 kg bombs
Equipment: prop.spinner, Townend-ring and modified landing-gear
Hungária IV
Engine: WM built Sh 12
Span: 10.3 m
Length: 6.9 m
Wing area: 26.0 sq.m
Wing loading: 32.0 kg/sq.m
Empty weight: 582 kg
Loaded weight: 817 kg
Max. speed: 150 km/h
Wing strut formation: I
Armament: 2 x 8 mm Type 26/31 M Gebauer GKM machine guns or 10 – 20 kg bombs
Hungária V
Engine: WM built Sh 12
Span: 10.3 m
Length: 6.9 m
Wing area: 26.0 sq.m
Wing loading: 38.0 kg/sq.m
Empty weight: 587 kg
Loaded weight: 897 kg
Max. speed: 140 km/h
Wing strut formation: N
Armament: 2 x 8 mm Type 26/31 M Gebauer GKM machine guns or 10 – 20 kg bombs
Kristina Bakmane / Arsenals Air Force workshops U-12
Engine: Siemens Sh12, 110 hp
Wing Span: 10 m
Length: 7.4 m
Height: 2.8 m
Max Speed: 145 km/hr
Range: 450 km
Maximum Ceiling: 3800 m
Known Serial Numbers: 76, 77, 86, 87, 89, 95, 96.
#77) experimentally re-engined with 145hp Walter Mars
YL-ABX, YL-ABW and YL-ABY flown by Latvian Aeroclub flight school.
