Friedrichshafen FF.33

Infobox Aircraft
name=FF.33


caption=
type=Fighter
manufacturer=Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH
designer=
first flight=1914
introduced=1914
retired=
status=
primary user=Kaiserliche Marine
more users=
produced=
number built=FF.33E: 180
FF.33L: 135
unit cost=
developed from=
variants with their own articles=

Friedrichshafen FF.33 was a German single-engined amphibious reconnaissance biplane designed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen in 1914.

Versions

;FF.33:Initial production version powered by a Mercedes D.II engine, six built;FF.33b:FF.33 with pilot and observers postions reversed, additional observers-operated machine-gun and powered by 160 hp (119 kW) Maybach inline piston engine, five built.;FF.33e:Main production reconnaissance variant powered by a Benz B.III inline engine, longer twin floats, under tail central float removed, and radio transmitter instead of armament, about 180 built.;FF.33f:Scout/Fighter version based on FF.33e with reduced span wings and reduced length but fitted with a machine-gun on a pivoted mount, five built.;FF.33h:FF.33f with aerodynamic refinements, and duplication of wing-bay bracing cables as a safeguard if the observer has to fire his machine-gun forward through the wings, about 50 built.;FF.33j:FF.33e with aerodynamic refinements and the provision of a radio transmitter and receiver.;FF.33l:Main production scout/fighter version, with further aerodynamic improvements, about 130 built;FF.33s:dual-control trainer version;FF.39:Refined version of the FF.33e with a 200 hp (149 kw) Benz Bz.IV engine, 14 built.;FF.49c:Further improved FF.39 with strengthened structures, balanced controls, a radio receiver and transmitter, machine-gun for observer, over 200 built.;FF.49b:Bomber variant of the FF.49c, crew positions reversed, deletion of observers machine-gun and provision to carry a light bombload, 15 built.;FF.59a:Development aircraft based on FF.39 with different tail, one built.;FF.59b:Development aircraft based on FF.39 with different tail, one built.;FF.59c:FF.39 with modified tail unit, wing interplane struts moved outwards and inner-bay bracing wires removed.;C.I:A landplane version of the FF.33l with wheeled landing gear, one built.

Operators

*flag|Bulgaria|1878
*DNK
*FIN: Finnish Air Force purchased two FF.33Es from Germany in February 1918. The first one arrived on April 20, 1918 to Vaasa and the other one in the summer of 1918. The aircraft wore the German designation numbers 1999 and 1998, which were changed into the FAF designation numbers F16 and F24 (later S58/18 and S73/18). Another FF.33E was purchased from the Germans in Estonia on November 26, 1918. The type was in FAF service between 1918-1923.
*flag|German Empire
*NLD
*POL (post-war)
*SWE

pecifications (FF.33E)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Thulinista Hornetiin
crew=2
capacity=
length main=10.22 m
length alt=33 ft 6 in
span main=16.60 m
span alt=54 ft 6 in
height main=3.75 m
height alt= 12 ft 4 in
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 1,550 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 3,412 lb
more general=

engine (prop)=Benz Bz.III
type of prop=inline engine
number of props=1
power main= 112 kW
power alt=150 hp
power original=

max speed main=110 km/h
max speed alt= 60 knots, 68 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
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thrust/weight=
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more performance=
* Endurance: 4-5 hours
armament=
*8 × 12 kg (26.4 lb) bombs
avionics=

References

* [http://www.avrosys.nu/aircraft/Skol/402Sk2.htm Friedrichshafen FF.33s history]
*