Messerschmitt M 18

M 18
Role Airliner
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Messerschmitt/BFW
Designer Willy Messerschmitt
First flight 1926
Primary user Nordbayerische Verkehrsflug
Number built ca 24

The Messerschmitt M 18 (later also known as the BFW M 18) was an airliner produced in Germany in the late 1920s.[1][2]

Design and development

Designed at the request of Theodor Croneiss to supply his new airline venture which was to become Nordbayerische Verkehrsflug (NOBA),[3] it was a conventional high-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailskid undercarriage. The prototype was built of wood, although production examples would have a metal structure.[2] The design was praised in its day for the cleanness of its aerodynamics, lightness of construction, and economy of operation[4]

Operational history

The first M 18 to enter service with NOBA was provided by Messerschmitt in exchange for a 49% share of the new company, and on 26 July it began commercial flights.[5] NOBA's early successes enabled the company to place orders for additional examples of an improved model, the M 18b. It would eventually purchase twelve of these,[3] but manufacturing them would exceed the capacity of Messerschmitt's own small firm, leading to a merger with Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) in 1927. Following NOBA's reorganisation into DEVAG in 1931, a small number of a further improved version designated M 18d were ordered, but the type was soon superseded by the similar but larger Messerschmitt M 20.[2]

Variants

Specifications (M 18b)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, 494. Weights from [6],

General characteristics

Performance

Notes

  1. ^ Taylor 1989, 651
  2. ^ a b c The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, 494
  3. ^ a b Szegeti 1998, 74
  4. ^ "1928 Berlin Aero Show", 919-92
  5. ^ Mulder
  6. ^ .Smith, J. Richard, Messerschmitt: an aircraft album. (1971). Shepperton: Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 0224 X

References