Fieseler Fi 253

Fieseler Fi 253
The Fi 253 Spatz prototype
Role	Sports aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Fieseler
First flight	November 4, 1937
Number built	6

The Fieseler Fi 253 Spatz, (English: Sparrow), was a light civilian aircraft, manufactured by the German company Fieseler during the time of the Third Reich. Only six units were produced, however, due to the Second World War.

Development

In January 1937 Major Werner Junck, chief of the LC II, the technical wing of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium responsible for the development of new aircraft, informed various minor aircraft manufacturers such as Bücker, Fieseler, Gothaer Waggonfabrik, Flugzeugwerke Halle and Klemm that they would not get any contracts for the development of military aircraft. He therefore advised them to concentrate in the development of a Volksflugzeug or a small twin-engined plane. As a result, Fieseler developed the Fi 253, while the other companies produced the Kl 105, the Si 202, the Bü 180 and the Go 150.^[1]

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 1 pilot, 1 passenger, 205kg
• Length: 7.25 m (23 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
• Height: 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 16 m² (170 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 295 kg (650 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Zündapp Z 9-092 inline four-cylinder, 37 kW (50 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph; 76 kn)
• Cruising speed: 125 km/h (78 mph; 67 kn)
• Range: 450 km (280 mi; 243 nmi)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fieseler.

• Nowarra, Heinz J. Die deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-1945, Volume 4 (in German). ISBN 3-7637-5464-4.