Fieseler F 4

The Fieseler F 4 was developed, built and flown as a two-seat sports and travel aircraft at the Fieseler Flugzeugbau.

F 4
Role	2-seat sport aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Fieseler Flugzeugbau
Designer	Gerhard Fieseler
First flight	1932
Number built	2

Design and development

After the failure of the Fieseler F 3 Wespe, Fieseler developed a sport aircraft with emphasis placed on safety, quality, efficiency, and convenience, designated Fieseler F 4.

The F 4 was a two-seat low-wing monoplane, with a welded steel tube fuselage and wooden wings covered with aircraft linen. The wings, attached to the fuselage, were braced with profile wires from the top of the fuselage and the undercarriage.

Fitted with balloon tires the undercarriage was attachedforward of the centre of gravity, reducing the danger of nose-over during a difficult landing. Fuel was carried in a gravity tank and transferred using flexible hoses.

Well padded seats in the cockpits with moveable armrests increased comfort and adjustable rudder pedals accommodated pilots of varying heights. A luggage compartment behind the pilot's seat also gave access to controls and equipment in the fuselage.

Initially powered by a 35 PS (35 hp; 26 kW) Argus As 16 engine, the F 4 was later powered by a 35 PS (35 hp; 26 kW) Salmson 9 AD engine.

Operational history

When it was first flown in August 1932, Gerhard Fieseler was pleased with F 4's flight characteristics revealed during flight testing despite the low engine power. The targets being confirmed by a number of measurement and test flights.

The F 4 was presented to the public in October 1932 at the German Aerospace Exhibition, offering the aircraft powered by the As 16 at RM 5,900 and RM 6,300 powered by the AD9.

Despite market interest in the F 4, Fieseler had doubts as to the success of the project despite the good market prospects. Flight testing was suspended and production plans abandoned freeing the company to develop new aircraft types.

Specifications (F 4)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
• Height: 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 13 m² (140 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 240 kg (529 lb)
• Gross weight: 475 kg (1,047 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 235 kg (518 lb) (incl. passengers)
• Powerplant: 1 × Salmson 9 AD 9-cyl. air-cooled radial engine, 30 kW (40 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 155 km/h (96 mph, 84 kn)
• Cruise speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
• Stall speed: 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)
• Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,100 ft)

Further reading

• Fieseler, Gerhard (1982). Meine Bahn am Himmel : der Erbauer des "Fieseler Storch" und der V1 erzählt sein Leben (in German) (Genehmigte, ungekürzte Taschenbuchausg. ed.). München: W. Heyne. ISBN 978-3453015395.

"unknown". Fieseler-Zeitschrift. Werk-Zeitung für die Gefolgschaft der Fieseler-Flugzeugbau GMBH. 1938. {{cite journal}}: Cite uses generic title (help)ZDB-ID 1293906-7.

• Technische Daten aus Unterlagen des Fieseler Flugzeugbau Kassel