BFW M.23
| M.23 | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Role | Two-seat sports aircraft |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) |
| Designer | Willy Messerschmitt |
| First flight | early 1928 |
| Number built | ≥ 100 |
| Developed from | M.19 |
The BFW M.23, sometimes known as the Messerschmitt M 23, was a 1920s two-seat sporting aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt, and produced by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). Examples won several prestigious races in 1929 and 1930.
Development
The BFW M.23,[1] (the M standing for its designer Willy Messerschmitt), was developed in response to a specification issued in 1929 by the German Aero Club for the Ostpreussenflug (East Prussian Circuit) competition. The result was an improved version of the M.19, with seating for two, and wings that could be folded for transport or storage.[1]
The M.23 was a small, conventional low-wing
The first of three production variants, the M.23a used low-powered engines and had a very angular vertical tail. The M.23b had curved upper
At least one M.23b appeared on floats.[1]
Operational history
The M.23bs won both the 1929 Ostpreussenflug (
Production numbers are not certain, but 74 appear on the reconstructed German civil aircraft register;[2] 53 of these are M.23bs and 11 M.23cs. Many were bought by flying clubs for basic and acrobatic training. Other went to individual owners, with some familiar names amongst them like Ernst Udet (who made well publicised flights to Africa and to Greenland, the latter with Leni Riefenstahl as a passenger) and Rudolf Hess. In 1933, Erwin Aichele and his wife flew trouble-free for 13,000 km (8,000 mi) around the Mediterranean.[1]
The corresponding Romanian registers
Variants
- M.23
- initial open cockpit variant, powered by a 15 kW (20 hp) Daimler F7502 2-cyl horizontally-opposed engine.[5]
- M.23a
- either 28 kW (38 hp) Salmson 9ADbnine-cylinder radial.
- M.23b
- many engines fitted, including
- 70 kW (94 hp) inline upright ADC Cirrus III
- 85 kW (114 hp) inline ADC Cirrus Hermes
- 64 kW (86 hp) five-cylinder radial Armstrong Siddeley Genet
- 37 kW (50 hp) five-cylinder radial BMW X
- 62 kW (83 hp) radial Siemens Sh 13
- 86 kW (115 hp) seven-cylinder radial Siemens Sh 14
- 70 kW (94 hp) inline upright
- M.23c
- Powered by several engine types, including
- 82 kW (110 hp) in-line inverted Argus As 8
- 112 kW (150 hp) radial Siemens Sh 14a.
Specifications (M.23b with Siemens Sh 14 engine))
Data from Smith 1971, p. 26
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 11.80 m (38 ft 8.5 in)
- Height: 2.30 m (7 ft 6.5 in)
- Wing area: 14.4 m2 (155 sq ft) [6]
- Empty weight: 370 kg (816 lb)
- Gross weight: 670 kg (1,477 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × 7-cylinder radial Siemens Sh 14, 86 kW (115 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn)
- Range: 1,000 km (621 mi, 540 nmi)
See also
- Albatros L 100 and L.101
- Arado L II
- Darmstadt D-18
- Junkers A 50
- Klemm Kl 25E
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Smith 1971, pp. 23–6
- ^ "Civil Aircraft Register - Germany". Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ "Civil Aircraft Register - Romania". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ "Civil Aircraft Register - Romania". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
- ^ Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 131c–132c.
- ^ http://www.eads.net/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1920_1929/BFW_M_23.html[permanent dead link] BFW M 23
Bibliography
- Cortet, Pierre (August 2000). "Rétros du Mois" [Retros of the Month]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (89): 4. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Smith, J Richard (1971). Messerschmitt: An Aircraft Album. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0224-X.
External links
- EADS: History of aviation > BFW M 23[permanent dead link] (history, technical data and images)
- The B.F.W. M.23. A German Light 'Plane with Many Variations, Flight, March 21, 1930