Klemm Kl 25

Kl 25
Role Training plane
Manufacturer Klemm
First flight 1928
L 25E during the Europa Rundflug 1930 (pilot Reinhold Poss)
1934 L25-DII

Klemm L.25, later Klemm Kl 25 was a successful German light leisure, sports and training monoplane aircraft, developed in 1928. More than 600 aircraft were built, and manufacturing licenses were sold to the United Kingdom and the United States.

Design and construction

With a low cantilever wing, fixed landing gear, and two open cockpits,[1] the aircraft was developed by Hanns Klemm who used his previous design, the Klemm Kl 20, as a starting point. It first flew on a 20 hp (15 kW) Mercedes engine.[1] About 30 different versions of the Kl 25 were made, and these were equipped with engines ranging from 32 to 70 kW (43 to 94 hp). The fuselage was covered with plywood.

Depending on the model, the aircraft's weight was 620 to 720 kg (1,367 to 1,587 lb), and it had a 10.5 to 13 m (34 to 43 ft) wingspan. Takeoff was achieved at only 50 km/h (31 mph) and the maximum speed was between 150 to 160 km/h (93 to 99 mph).

In relation to similar aircraft of the time, assembly was very easy, and this made it a very popular aircraft. According to the sales brochures, only 25% of the engine's power was needed to keep the aircraft flying, compared to biplanes of the period, which required 50% engine power.

About 600 were built in Germany between 1929 and 1936,[1] serving with various flight training organizations, with either wheels, skis, or floats.[1] 15 were sold to Britain before the Second World War,[1] being fitted with a variety of domestic engines,[1] while 28 more were built by British Klemm Aeroplane Company as the B.A. Swallow.[1] Production in the United States was carried out by the Aeromarine-Klemm Company which enjoyed moderate success, as well as developing models for the American market, in isolation from the parent company, with about 120 built of all models.

Operation

Klemm L 25s took part in many competitions, among others in International Touring Aircraft Competitions (Europa Rundflug) in 1929 (best 4th place) and in 1930 (best 2nd and 3rd places, L 25E variant).[2]

Versions

NB, list not complete
 Germany
L 25 a: Built between 1927 and 1929, equipped with a Daimler F 7502 engine (22 PS)
L 25 I, Ia and IW: Built between 1928 and 1929, equipped with a Salmson AD.9 engine (45 PS)
L 25 b: Built in 1931, equipped with a 22 PS Daimler engine
L 25 b VII: Built in 1931, equipped with a Hirth HM 60 engine (60 PS)
L 25 d II: Built in 1933, equipped with a Siemens Sh 13 a engine (88 PS)
Klemm L.25 d VII R built in 1934
L 25 d VII: Equipped with a Hirth HM 60 R engine (80 PS)
L 25 IVa: Equipped with Armstrong Siddeley Genet engine[3]
L 25E or Ve: Special competition variant (E for Europa Rundflug 1930), with a closed canopy, smaller span, equipped with Argus As 8 straight engine (103 PS / 75.7 kW)[4]
VL 25 Va: Three-seater variant, with a closed canopy, equipped with Argus As 8 straight engine (103 PS / 75.7 kW)[5]
 United Kingdom
British Klemm Aeroplane Company B.K. Swallow
British Aircraft Manufacturing Co. B.A. Swallow II
 United States
AKL-26A displayed at the Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum in New York State
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-25
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-26
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-27
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-60
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-70
Aeromarine-Klemm Model 70 Trainer

Operators

 Bolivia
 Hungary
 Peru
 Romania
 South Africa

Specifications (L 25 d VII R)

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ketley, Barry, and Rolfe, Mark. Luftwaffe Fledglings 1935-1945: Luftwaffe Training Units and their Aircraft (Aldershot, GB: Hikoki Publications, 1996), p.12.
  2. ↑ Krzyżan, M., op.cit.
  3. ↑ Krzyżan, Marian. Międzynarodowe turnieje lotnicze 1929-1934 [International aviation competitions 1929-1934], Warsaw 1988, ISBN 83-206-0637-3, table II
  4. ↑ Krzyżan, M., op.cit., p.218
  5. ↑ Krzyżan, M., op.cit., p.216
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