The Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz (Goldfinch) is a 1930s
German two-seat
biplane. Designed by
Kurt Tank[2] in 1931, it was the
Focke-Wulf company's first major international success.[3] Produced as a pilot
training and sports flying aircraft. It was also built under license in several other countries.
Design and development
The Fw 44 was designed as a biplane with conventional layout and straight, untapered wings. Its two open
cockpits were arranged in tandem, and both cockpits were equipped with flight controls and instruments. The Fw 44 had fixed
tailwheel landing gear. It employed
ailerons on both upper and lower wings. It did not use
flaps. It was flown with a
Siemens-Halske Sh 14radial engine.
The first
prototype flew in 1932.[1] After many tests and modifications to increase the plane's durability and aerodynamics, the final Fw 44 proved to have excellent airworthiness.
A second version of the Fw 44 was the Fw 44B, which had an
Argus As 8 four-cylinder inverted
inline air-cooled engine of 90 kW (120 hp).[1] The
cowling for this engine gave the plane a more slender, aerodynamic nose.
Twenty Fw 44s purchased by
China were modified for combat missions, and participated in the early stage of the
Second Sino-Japanese War until all were lost in action.
The last series version was the Fw 44J, which was sold or built under license in several countries around the world. It was equipped with a seven-cylinder
Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine.
Many Fw 44Cs remained in
Luftwaffe service during World War 2, with the Flugzeugführerschulen and one or two Flugkriegsschulen.[3]
Variants
Fw 44B
Fw 44C
Main production version with minor equipment changes, powered by a seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.
Fw 44D
Fw 44E
Fw 44F
Fw 44J
Final production model, powered by a seven-cylinder
Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.