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DFW T28 Floh

Страна: Германия

Год: 1915

Fighter

DFW - C.III - 1915 - Германия<– –>DFW - C.IV - 1916 - Германия


O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)


D.F.W. Floh (Flea)
   A 1915 prototype of ungainly proportions. Visibility from cockpit was very poor, and the aircraft crashed on test. Engine, 100 h.p. Mercedes D I. Span, 6.2 m. (20 ft. 4 1/8 in.). Length, 4.5 m. (14 ft. 9 1/4 in.). Area, 15 sq.m. (162 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 420 kg. (924 lb.). Loaded, 650kg. (1,430 lb.).


W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters


DFW T 28 FLOH Germany

   Designed in late 1915 by Dipl Ing Hermann Dorner, newly appointed as chief engineer of the Deutsche Flugzeugwerke GmbH (DFW) of Leipzig-Lindenthal, the T 28 Floh (Flea) was, in appearance, one of the most extraordinary single-seat biplane fighter prototypes tested during World War I. Built under the supervision of Ing Theo Rockenfeller at DFW’s Lubeck-Travemunde subsidiary, the T 28 featured an inordinately deep fuselage in which the 100 hp Mercedes D I six-cylinder water-cooled engine was completely buried. Of wooden construction with fabric-covered wings and wood veneer skinning for the fuselage, the T 28 carried a single machine gun in the forward fuselage above the engine. During the maiden flight a speed of 112 mph (180 km/h) was attained - a noteworthy accomplishment at the time - but minor damage resulted during the landing. Some modifications were made, including the introduction of aerodynamically-balanced elevators, but the authorities evinced no interest in the aircraft and further development of the T 28 was abandoned in consequence.

Max speed, (approx) 112 mph (180 km/h).
Empty weight, 926 lb (420 kg).
Loaded weight,1,433 lb (650 kg).
Span, 20 ft 4 in (6,20 m).
Length 14 ft 9 in (4,50 m).
Height, 7 ft 6 1/2 in (2,30 m).
Wing area, 161.46 sq ft (15,00 m2).


J.Herris DFW Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 29)


DFW Floh (Flea)
  
   For some reason the T 28 Floh was designed and built at DFW's facility at Lubeck-Travemunde where the DFW flight school was located. Diplom-Ingenieur Hermann Dorner, DFW's new lead engineer, proposed the aircraft in 1915 and Ingenieur Theo Rockenfeller led the detail design and construction.
   The motivation for the T 28 was to produce a much faster fighter than the Fokker Eindeckers then in combat, and great attention to streamlining to minimize drag coupled with light weight was seen as the solution. An airfoil radiator was fitted in the upper left wing and gravity fuel tanks in both upper wings. The airfoil was comparatively thick and the leading edge was covered in thin plywood as was the fuselage. Control cables were internal to the structure. The pilot had an excellent field of view upward but not downward and forward, which made landing difficult.
   When the Floh was demonstrated to the Army, the officials decided it was too fast (!) and especially that the landing speed was too high.


DFW Fighter Specifications
DFW Floh DFW D.l DFW Dr.I DFW D.II
Engine 100 hp Mercedes D.l 160 hp Mercedes D.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa
Span, Upper 6.5 m - - 9.08 m
Wing Area - - - 23.00 m2
Length 4.5 m - - 5.5 m
Empty Weight 352 kg - - 639 kg
Loaded Weight 596 kg - - 819 kg
Maximum Speed 180 km/h - - 177 km/h
Climb to 4,000m - - - 10 minutes
Armament One gun Two guns Two guns Two guns

J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
The designer of the DFW T 28 Floh photographed with his creation. This photo emphasizes the small size of the aircraft. Only one synchronized machine gun was fitted. Despite extraordinary appearance, the T 28 Floh achieved a respectable performance. (Peter M. Bowers Collection/Museum of Flight)
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
The DFW T 28 Floh had a very unusual configuration. The pilot had an excellent field of view upward but the wings obstructed the view forward and downward that made landing problematic. (Peter M. Grosz Collection/SDTB)
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
To taxi the prototype Floh the pilot had to stand up to see over the high wing and fuselage. In addition to being highly streamlined, the DFW T 28 was very small, both factors contributing to its speed. DFW B.I trainers are in the background at DFW's Lubeck-Travemunde facility. (Peter M. Bowers Collection/Museum of Flight)
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
The bizarre DFW T 28 Floh was fast for its 100 hp Mercedes D.I due to its excellent streamlining, achieving 180 km/h on its maiden flight, but Idflieg had little interest in the type. It featured conventional wood, wire, and fabric wings with plywood-wrapped fuselage over a wooden frame like the DFW C.IV that was designed at nearly the same time. An exhaust header was omitted to minimize weight and drag.
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
The original tail design of the DFW T 28 Floh without aerodynamic balances on the elevators. There was no fixed fin and no bracing for the tail surfaces. (Peter M. Bowers Collection/Museum of Flight)
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
The initial tail design of the DFW T 28 Floh is shown in this rear view. (Peter M. Grosz Collection/SDTB)
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
The final tail design of the DFW T 28 Floh with aerodynamic horn balances on the elevators is shown here. (Peter M. Bowers Collection/ Museum of Flight)
O.Thetford, P.Gray - German Aircraft of the First World War /Putnam/
D.F.W. Floh (Flea)
Форум - Breguet's Aircraft Challenge /WWW/
W.Green, G.Swanborough - The Complete Book of Fighters
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
DFW T28 Floh (Flea)
J.Herris - DFW Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (29)
DFW T28 Floh (Flea)