Messerschmitt M 17

Messerschmitt M 17
Messerschmitt M17 in Deutsches Museum
Role	Sports plane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Flugzeugbau Messerschmitt Bamberg
Designer	Willy Messerschmitt
First flight	January 1925
Introduction	1925
Primary user	Germany
Number built	8

The M 17 was a German sports plane, a single-engine high-wing monoplane. It was designed by Willy Messerschmitt in 1925 in Bamberg. This aircraft won many competitions and allowed Willy Messerschmitt to build its first factory.

Development

The design of the M 17 could be traced back via the powered S 16 and S 15 aircraft to the Messerschmitt-Hirth S 14 glider^[1]. The aircraft was a two-seater almost completely made of wood and weighed only 198 kg (437 lb). The engine was a 22 kW (29 hp) Bristol Cherub II. The pilot had no forward visibility.

In September 1926, pilot Eberhard von Conta, and the writer Werner von Langsdorff flew in an M 17 from Bamberg to Rome. This marked the first time the central Alps were crossed with a light aircraft. The flight lasted more than 14 hours and they had to refuel every three hours, since the tank could only hold 28 L (7 US gal). They reached an altitude of 4,500 m (14,760 ft).

Survivors/Replicas

Only one of the six to eight machines built survived and is today in the Deutsches Museum in Munich^[2].

A replica was built by Messerschmitt Foundation (first flight April 14, 2004) and makes regular appearances at the International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin. It weighs 40 kg (90 lb) more than the original due to additional equipment (radio and rescue system) and is now at the Manching Aviation Museum in Ingolstadt, Bavaria.

Messerschmitt M 17 Messerschmitt Foundation replica

Messerschmitt M 17 replica in flight

Specifications

Data from ^[1],[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: One, pilot
• Capacity: 1, passenger / second pilot
• Length: 5.85 m (19 ft 2¼ in)
• Wingspan: 11.60 m (38 ft 0⅔ in)
• Height: 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 10.4 m² (112 ft²)
• Empty weight: 186 kg (410 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 370 kg (816 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Cherub II 2-cylinder air-cooled flat engine, 22 kW (29 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 140 km/h
• Cruise speed: 125 km/h (78 mph)
• Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph)
• Range: 600 km (905 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,125 ft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• RWD-1 - RWD-2
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Smith, J. Richard, Messerschmitt: an aircraft album. (1971). Shepperton: Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 0224 X
2. ^ Deutsches Museum
3. ^ Ugolok Neba

External links

• M-17 at Ugolok Neba - photos and drawings