Høver M.F. 11

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Høver M.F. 11
M.F.11 in Norwegian service
Type	Maritime reconnaissance
Manufacturer	Marinens Minevesen
Designed by	J.E. Høver
Maiden flight	29 September, 1931
Primary users	Norwegian Air Force Luftwaffe Finnish Air Force

Høver M.F. 11 was a three-seated, one-engined, biplane, used for maritime reconnaissance, designed in Norway by J.E. Høver. The aircraft made its first flight on September 29, 1931. The first-series aircrft were equipped with a British-made Armstrong Siddeley Panther II engine and from 1935, the aircraft was licence manufactured by Marinens Minevesen -factory.

The fuselage of the M.F. 11 was made out of welded steel bars, wood and covered with canvas. Communication between the crew was dealt with pneumatic tubes. 29 aircraft were produced in total.

Contents 1 Use in Finland 2 Users 3 Specifications (Høver M.F. 11) 4 References 5 Related content

[edit] Use in Finland

When Germany invaded Norway in 1940, some of the Norwegian airstrips were threatened to be overrun. Two pilots with their M.F. 11's decided to seek internment in Finland and landed in Petsamo on June 8, 1940, one day later, another M.F. 11 landed in Finland. All three were quickly interned and taken into Finnish service. They were given the designation numbers NK-171 - NK-173, after the Finnish abbrevation for "Norwegian Aircraft" ("norjalainen kone").

The aircraft were used in Finland between 1942 - 1944 by LeLv 6, which was based in Mariehamn, Åland. The aircraft were used for maritime reconnaissance, convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare. In June 1944 two M.F. 11's were transfered to Vaasa to patrol the shipping traffic in the Kvarken. During the Lapland War, the aircraft were used as ambulance aircraft.

NK-173 was scrapped on November 8, 1944 and the final two were sold for scrapping on June 22, 1950. The aircraft were given the popular name "Norjan Kalle" in Finland.

[edit] Users

• Norway (25)
• Germany captured Norwegian aircraft
• Finland (3) Norwegian aircraft that were interned in 1940

[edit] Specifications (Høver M.F. 11)

Data from^{[citation needed]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 11.72 m (38 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 15.4 m (50 ft 6 in)
• Height: 4.45 m (14 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 53.5 m² (575.9 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1847 kg (4,070 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2850 kg (6,285 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Amstrong Siddeley Panther IIA 14-cylinder, air-cooled, two-row radial engine, 430 kW (575 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 235 km/h (127 knots, 146 mph)
• Cruise speed: 170 km/h (92 knots, 106 mph)
• Range: 1,000 km (540 nm, 620 mi)
• Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,405 ft)

Armament

• 1× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine gun
• 1× 200 kg (440 lb) depth charge

[edit] References

• Heinonen, Timo: Thulinista Hornetiin, 1992, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo, ISBN 951-95688-2-4

[edit] Related content