Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk M.F.12
M.F.12 | |
---|---|
The M.F.12 prototype F.14 (V). | |
Role | Military trainer seaplane |
National origin | Norway |
Manufacturer | Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk |
Designer | Johan E. Høver |
First flight | 11 July 1939 |
Primary user | Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service |
Number built | 1 |
The Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk M.F.12 (sometimes known as the Høver M.F.12, after its designer) was a seaplane built in Norway in 1939 as a military trainer aircraft
Design and manufacture
By the late 1930s flying school of the RNNAS requested that a new trainer aircraft should be acquired to replace the M.F.8s. Following international aircraft development, a monoplane designed seemed preferable and once again the RNNAS decided to design and construct the aircraft themselves. The order was given to the seaplane factory Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk on 15 June 1937. The factory immediately began work on the design.[5] The M.F.12 was a conventional design with two open cockpits in tandem and a low, strut-braced monoplane wing. The cockpit design was carried over from the
First flights
The first, unofficial, flight occurred on 11 July 1939, the day the aircraft was launched,[5] at the hands of Johan E. Høver himself, a fact initially kept secret because he was unauthorised to make it, and the first official flight took place six days later.[3] The official orders for 11 July 1939 had been to merely taxi the M.F.12 F.14 (V) to the northern slipway, where it was to wait until the factory's control officer Kristian Østby returned from a trip to Germany to accept the first of the Heinkel He 115 torpedo bombers ordered by the RNNAS.[5] All new aircraft were supposed to be first tested by the control officer, who also received a 500 Norwegian kroner (NOK) fee for each such test. However, as Høver felt that the aircraft seemed to work fine, he made a 20-minute flight, being very pleased with its performance when he landed. The issue was kept secret, and Østby could make the official first flight and collect his 500 NOK on 17 July.[6]
Development halted
Development stalled after a flight test by Lützow Holm, commander of the
Fate of the prototype
The final disposition of the prototype is lost to history, but Høver recalls it being impounded by the
Quotations
It was a first-rate, nice little bus. It flew all on its own when in hands off mode, incredibly light and comfortable.
— Johan E. Høver after his secret 11 July 1939 flight, page 103 in Bjørn Hafsten's Marinens Flygevåpen 1912–1944[quote 1]
Specifications
Data from "Skoleflyet MF-12"
General characteristics
- Crew: Two, pilot and instructor
- Length: 9.73 m (31 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 13.60 m (34 ft 7 in)
- Height: 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Powerplant: 1 × Jacobs L-4M , 168 kW (225 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 195 km/h (121 mph, 105 kn)
References and notes
- References
- Notes
Bibliography
- Hafsten, Bjørn; Tom Arheim (2003). Marinens Flygevåpen 1912–1944 (in Norwegian). Oslo: TankeStreken AS. ISBN 82-993535-1-3.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- Stein, Gulli. "Skoleflyet MF-12". Borreminne (in Norwegian). Borre Historielag. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2008.