Siebel Si 204
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The Siebel Si 204 was a small twin-engined transport and school aircraft developed during World War II. It was based on the Fh 104. Originally designed in response to a RLM development order for a small civil transport plane in 1938, it was eventually produced for the Luftwaffe.
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[edit] Development
The Si 204 was planned as a small passenger plane with 2 crew and 8 passengers for German Lufthansa. The development of this all-metal-plane was initiated in 1938. The contractor was, as usual, the RLM, but the development was conducted in close collaboration between Lufthansa and Siebel in Halle. After the beginning of the war the plane was re-designed as a training aircraft with a full glass cockpit for blind flying. The first two prototypes only were delivered as passenger planes with the old cockpit. The maiden flight of the first prototype was before September 1940, possibly on 25th May 1940, that of the second prototype before February 1941. The third prototype was re-designed as a school plane for blind flying. As a result of this, the maiden flight was not earlier than the end of 1941 or the beginning of 1942. At that time Siebel produced the Ju 88 under licence, and therefore only 15 prototypes were able to be built in Halle. As a result, SNCAN in France produced the passenger plane A-1 and the pre-series A-0 between April 1942 and November 1943. ČKD/BMM in the Czech Protectorate delivered the first blind flying school aircraft D-0 in January 1943 followed by the production of a further 44 D-0 pre-series planes. The D-1 series was begun in March 1943 by the Aero company, also located in the Czech Protectorate, and by BMM in June or July 1943. In August 1943, SNCAN also delivered the first D-1. The production of the D-3 was started in October 1944 by the Aero company. The D-3 had wooden wings and a tail plane made of wood and metal. In France, production of the D-1 was ended in August 1944 as a result of the Liberation. All in all 168 Si 204 were built by SNCAN. BMM produced the plane until October 1944 and then changed to the production of spare parts for the Si 204. The Aero company was scheduled to cease production of the D-1 in March 1945 after building 486 planes and then switch to D-3 only. The aircraft, however, was only build until January 1945 with 541 completed. Therefore the total production was 1.216 including the prototypes.
Production figures of the Si 204 until 31st January 1945:
| Version | Siebel | SNCAN | BMM/ČKD | Aero | SUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prototypes | 15 | 15 | |||
| A-0 | 30 | 30 | |||
| A-1 | 85 | 85 | |||
| D-0 | 45 | 45 | |||
| D-1 | 53 | 447 | 477 | 977 | |
| D-3 | 64 | 64 | |||
| SUM | 15 | 168 | 492 | 541 | 1.216 |
Sources: Files from Federal Archive/Military Archive Freiburg and from Lufthansa-Archive, Cologne
[edit] Operational history
The use of the Si 204 D was mainly in B- and C-Schools (advanced schools) and by FÜG 1 (delivery wing of the Luftwaffe), probably as a taxi plane for crews who had delivered other planes to fighting units. The utilization in blind flying schools was sporadic; for radio schools there is no evidence of use. The Si 204 A flew mainly with communications squadrons and flying services for senior officers, but also with schools.
In July 1944 five Si 204 were destined to be converted to night combat planes, but no further planes were allotted. They were probably intended for the pre-series Si 204 E-0. There is, however, no evidence that these planes were ever used in combat situations.
Lufthansa received at least four Si 204: The first prototype, D-AEFR, was evaluated from March to May 1941 by Lufthansa Prague. From Spring 1942 to Spring 1943 the second prototype, D-ASGU, was used on regular routes as a freight carrier. At the end of the war one Si 204 D remained in Berlin-Tempelhof (named “Rhein”). One flew to Enns in Austria, where it was captured by the Allies.
After the war, captured Si 204s flew in a variety of roles in the Soviet Union, including with Aeroflot and TsAGI, but were all quickly phased out of service as local aircraft manufacturing was re-established.
[edit] Prototypes of the Si 204
| Version | Engine | Usage | First Flight | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | As 410 | Prototype passenger plane, Reg. D-AEFR | 25th May, 1940? | Not mentioned in November 1942, scrapped? |
| V2 | As 410 | Prototype passenger plane, Reg. D-ASGU | Before February 1941 | 26.02.44 Crash Erprobungs-Stelle Rechlin |
| V3 | As 410 | Prototype Blind flying school plane | Before February 1942 | 01.06.42 Crash Erprobungs-Stelle Rechlin |
| V4 | As 411 | Prototype Blind flying school plane, Reg. KM+GB | Before November 1942 | |
| V5 | For stress testing | |||
| V6 | As 410 | Evaluation As 410 | December 1942 | |
| V7 | As 410 | Weather reconnaissance | ||
| V8 | As 410 | General flight evaluation | ||
| V9 | As 410 | General flight evaluation | 30.06.43 Crash School C-16 Burg | |
| V10 | As 410 | General flight evaluation | ||
| V11 | As 410 | General flight evaluation | ||
| V12 | As 410 | General flight evaluation | 13.03.44 Crash Erprobungs-Stelle Rechlin | |
| V13 | As 410 | General flight evaluation | ||
| V14 | As 411 | Prototype D-2 | ||
| V15 | As 411 | Evaluation As 411 |
[edit] General characteristics
- Crew: one or two pilots
- Capacity: up to 8 passengers or up to 1,650 kg (3,638 lb) cargo
- Length: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 21.33 m (70 ft 0 in)
- Height: 4.25 m (14 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 46 m² (495 ft²)
- Empty: 3,950 kg (8,709 lb)
- Loaded: kg ( lb)
- Maximum takeoff: 5,600 kg (12,348 lb)
- Powerplant: 2x Argus 411 A1, 441 kW (592 hp) each
[edit] Performance
- Maximum speed: 364 km/h (228 mph)
- Range: 1,400 km (875 miles)
- Service ceiling: 6,400 m (20,992 ft)
- Rate of climb: 360 m/min (1,181 ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
- Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)
[edit] Operators
- Czechoslovakia,
- France
- Germany
- Sweden (NC-701),
[edit] Civil Operators
- Aeroflot
- ČSA (Aero C-103)
- Deutsche Lufthansa
[edit] Related content
Related development: Siebel Fh 104
Comparable aircraft:
Designation sequence: Si 201 - Si 202 - DFS 203 - Si 204 - Fw 206 - Me 208 - Me 209
