Caspar U.1

Caspar U.1
U.1 under test by the US Navy
Role Submarine-launched patrol seaplane
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Caspar-Werke
Designer Ernst Heinkel
First flight 1922
Primary user Reichsmarine
Number built 3


The Caspar U.1 (sometimes known as the Caspar-Heinkel U.1) was a 1920s German patrol seaplane designed by Ernst Heinkel and built by Caspar-Werke.[1] The U.1 was designed to fit into a cylindrical container to allow it to be carried, then launched from a submarine.[1]

Development

The U.1 was designed to meet a requirement to fit inside a cylindrical container 7.40 metres (24.3 ft) long with a diameter of 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in); this allowed the aircraft to be carried by a submarine.[1] To reduce the time to launch the aircraft, it was built as a cantilever biplane to remove the need to rig struts and wires on assembly.[1] The U.1 had two single-step floats and was powered by a front-mounted 55-horsepower (41 kW) Siemens radial piston engine.[1] The pilot had an open cockpit behind the upper wing which gave a clear view forward.[1] It is claimed that during tests, four men could remove the U.1 from the container and erect it in 1 minute 3 seconds.[1] Two aircraft were bought by the United States Navy for evaluation;[1] these were delivered to NAS Anacostia in late 1922, and were tested during 1923; one of the aircraft was damaged beyond repair whilst moiunted on a truck for a parade.[2]

Operators

 Germany
 United States

Specifications

Data from [3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also


Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caspar-Werke.
Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Orbis 1985, p. 1060
  2. ↑ Treadwell, Terry (February 1983). "Submarine Aviation". Naval Aviation News (Washington, DC: Naval Air Systems Command) 65 (2): 9. ISSN 0028-1417.
  3. ↑ "Caspar U 1". http://www.histaviation.com/Caspar_U_1.html''. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
Bibliography