Friedrichshafen FF.41

The Friedrichshafen FF.41 was a large, German-built, three-seat, twin-engine amphibious reconnaissance aircraft designed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen in 1917.

The aircraft was mainly used as a reconnaissance aircraft, but also as a bomber and as a mine-laying aircraft. A torpedo-carrying version, the FF.41AT, was also developed. It had a modified fuselage and a single vertical fin (in comparison to the basic model's three). Only five FF.41AT aircraft were manufactured. According to another information, eight FF.41 were built and six of them were stationed in the Baltic territories. In Vindava (Ventspils) were stationed the planes number 996, 1000 and 1209 and in Angersee the planes number 997, 998 and 999.

Use in Finland

The Finnish Air Force purchased one FF.41AT aircraft from the Germans in Estonia on 26 November 1918, at the end of World War I. It was flown to Sortavala where it was repaired. In 1922, the torpedo-carrying fuselage was changed and the capability to carry torpedoes was removed. This aircraft was in use between 1918-23.

Use in Estonia

The Estonians found an unairworthy Friedrichshafen FF 41 A in the Tallinn hangars. The remains of the wrecked German aeroplane were used to produce the first aeroplane of the independent Estonian Air Force. On 13 March 1919, the Naval Squad was established and the barrack finished in 1921.^[1] According to the other information the Estonians were left three planes. One of them was purchased by the Finns and the other two ones in bad conditions were re-built as a new functioning one, which stayed in the Estonian service.^[2]

Operators

 Estonia

Estonian Air Force

 Finland

Finnish Air Force

 German Empire

German Imperial Navy

Specifications (FF.41)

Data from Thulinista Hornetiin

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 13.70 m (44 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 21.96 m (72 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.65 m (15 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 112.5 m² (1,210.5 ft²)
• Max. takeoff weight: 3,670 kg (7,340 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Benz Bz.III 6-cylinder, water-cooled inline, 112 kW (150 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 120 km/h (65 kn, 74 mph)
  
• Endurance: 6 hours

Armament

• 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun
• Bombs
• 1 × 700 kg (1,540 lb) torpedo

See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany
• List of aircraft of the Finnish Air Force
• List of seaplanes and flying boats

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Friedrichshafen aircraft.

• Timo Heinonen (1992). Thulinista Hornetiin - 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita. Tikkakoski: Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.