Darmstadt D-18
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| Darmstadt D-18 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sportsplane |
| Manufacturer | Akaflieg Darmstadt |
| Maiden flight | 1929 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Primary user | Germany |
| Produced | 1929 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Darmstadt D-18 was a sportsplane of Germany, designed and built by Akaflieg of Darmstadt University of Technology.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
The plane was designed by F. Fecher in the Akaflieg (academic group of flyers) of Darmstadt University of Technology. It was a development of D-16 project, that was designed for a sports plane contest organized by Idaflieg in 1926. The D-16 design with 40 hp engine won the first prize, but was not built, because the designer decided to strengthen a construction and fit more powerful 88 hp radial engine Armstrong Siddeley Genet. A result was D-18, that was built in one unit in 1929.
The plane had quite unorthodox layout, being a cantilever biplane, with an upper wing placed low above a fuselage and ahead of a lower wing. A stress was put upon aerodynamics and lightness and the plane was small, with a streamlined silhouette. Initially it had two open cockpits, but by 1930 it was modified and fitted with a closed canopy over cockpits.
[edit] Operational history
The plane carried registration D-1561. It took part in the Challenge 1929 international tourist plane contest, piloted by Johannes Nehring, being one of the fastest planes in the contest. It was the best aircraft in fuel consumption trial and, along with two other aircraft, won the first part of the contest - the technical trials. However, it dropped out due to a forced landing near Września before Poznań on 11 August 1929, during a rally around Europe, because of a fuel pipe cloging. The plane turned around and got damaged, its passenger got injured.
The plane was thereafter repaired, among others fitted with a closed cab, and took part in another Challenge 1930, piloted by Rudolf Neininger. On 26 July 1930, during a rally around Europe it fell to Mediterranean Sea between Barcelona and Nîmes, due to breaking a piston. The crew was rescued by a passing ship, that picked up the plane wreck.
[edit] Specifications
[edit] Description
Wooden construction cantilever biplane. A fuselage oval in cross-section, plywood covered. Single-spar wings, plywood and canvas covered. Wings were dismounted and folded. Two crew cockpits in tandem, later covered with a common multi-part canopy. Fixed landing gear with a rear skid. Uncovered radial engine in a fuselage nose, two-blade propeller.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 6.14 m ()
- Wingspan: 7.20 m ()
- Height: 2.54 m ()
- Wing area: 12.1 m² ()
- Empty weight: 300 kg ()
- Loaded weight: 540 kg ()
- Useful load: 240 kg ()
- Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Genet aircooled 5-cylinder radial engine, 88 hp (64.7 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 195 km/h
- Cruise speed: 168 km/h
- Range: 700 km ()
[edit] References
- Marian Krzyżan: "Międzynarodowe turnieje lotnicze 1929-1934", Warsaw 1988, ISBN 83-206-0637-3 (Polish language)
[edit] External links
- D-18 photos and drawings at Akaflieg Darmstadt page
- Peter M. Bowers, Darmstadt biplanes - article at General Aviation News
[edit] See also
Related development
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