The Hansa-Brandenburg KDW was a German single-engine, single-seat, fighterfloatplane of World War I. The KDW – Kampf Doppeldecker, Wasser (Fighter Biplane, Water) – was adapted from the Hansa-Brandenburg D.I landplane to provide coastal defence over the North Sea.[1][2]
It was produced under licence by the Austro-Hungarian manufacturer Phönix from 1916 in five batches, with progressively more powerful engines and armament, 58 aircraft in total being produced.
Hansa-Brandenburg D.I, showing the "star strutter" wing bracing
In 1916 the Imperial German Navy ordered the production of single-seat armed scout seaplanes (Jagdeinsitzer Wasser) to defend its North Sea seaplane stations against air attack. To deliver suitable aircraft quickly, the first designs were floatplanes based on existing landplane models. One such was the Hansa-Brandenburg KDW, adapted by the company's chief designer, Ernst Heinkel, from his Hansa-Brandenburg D.I.[2][3]
The D.I was a single-seat scout with novel and distinctive "star strutter" wing bracing. On each side of the aircraft four vee struts, two facing up, two facing down, were joined by their vertices at a point midway between the upper and lower wings, forming an eight-armed star configuration that gave the plane its nickname Spinne (spider).[3][4]
The KDW was essentially the D.I with a small increase in wingspan and mounted on a twin-float chassis. To counteract the keel effect resulting from the floats, which were below the aircraft's centre of gravity, vertical tailfin area was added below and later above the fuselage. Even with the added tailfin area, the aircraft's lateral stability – its tendency to return from a bank to vertical flight – was below par.[5] Moreover, the deep fuselage tended to blanket the small tailfin and rudder, making directional stability and control very poor.[3]
Operational historyedit
The KDW was produced in Austria-Hungary under license by Phönix.[6] 58 were built in five production batches. The first batch entered combat in late 1916.[1] The wings extended well beyond the outboard ends of the star struts, and it was found that this unbraced part of the upper wing flexed when the ailerons were actuated, reducing their effectiveness. Starting with the second batch a light steel-tube vee brace was added outboard of the star struts to stiffen the outer upper wing.[7]
The first three batches were equipped with the 150 hp (110 kW) Benz Bz.III engine. The last two batches, 35 aircraft in total, were equipped with the 160 hp (120 kW) Maybach Mb.III engine.[7] The first four batches were armed with one fixed Spandau machine gun, mounted on the starboard side of the nose. The final batch of 20 aircraft, delivered between October 1917 and February 1918, were armed with twin Spandau machine guns on either side of the cockpit.[8]
Production was slow, so that many were obsolete almost as soon as they reached their units.[1] They were difficult to fly because of the aforementioned poor directional stability. Recovery from a spin was a matter of luck.[3] Another reason it was unpopular with pilots was that, until the final batch, the armament was positioned out of their reach, making it impossible to clear stoppages while airborne.[8]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hansa-Brandenburg KDW.
Angelucci, Enzo; Matricardi, Paolo (1977). World Aircraft: Origins-World War I. Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low.
Gray, Peter; Thetford, Owen (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (second ed.). London: Putnam.
Gleim, Irvin N.; Gleim, Garrett W. (2006). Pilot Handbook (eighth ed.). Gainesville, Florida: Gleim. ISBN1-58194-448-9.
Herris, Jack (2012). German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 2. Charleston (S.C.): Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-09-4.
Imrie, Alex (1989). German Naval Air Service. London: Arms and Armour. ISBN0853689202.
Jackson, Robert (2005). The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. Bath, UK: Paragon. p. 185. ISBN1-40542-465-6.
Owers, Colin A. (2015). Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI: Volume 2–Biplane Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 18. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-32-2.
January 01, 1970
hansa, brandenburg, german, single, engine, single, seat, fighter, floatplane, world, kampf, doppeldecker, wasser, fighter, biplane, water, adapted, from, hansa, brandenburg, landplane, provide, coastal, defence, over, north, role, floatplane, fighter, nationa. The Hansa Brandenburg KDW was a German single engine single seat fighter floatplane of World War I The KDW Kampf Doppeldecker Wasser Fighter Biplane Water was adapted from the Hansa Brandenburg D I landplane to provide coastal defence over the North Sea 1 2 KDW Role Floatplane fighter National origin German Empire Manufacturer Hansa und Brandenburgische Flugzeug Werke Designer Ernst Heinkel First flight September 1916 Introduction 1916 Primary user Imperial German Navy Produced 1916 1918 Number built 58 Developed from Hansa Brandenburg D I It was produced under licence by the Austro Hungarian manufacturer Phonix from 1916 in five batches with progressively more powerful engines and armament 58 aircraft in total being produced Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications KDW 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 BibliographyDesign and development edit nbsp Hansa Brandenburg D I showing the star strutter wing bracing In 1916 the Imperial German Navy ordered the production of single seat armed scout seaplanes Jagdeinsitzer Wasser to defend its North Sea seaplane stations against air attack To deliver suitable aircraft quickly the first designs were floatplanes based on existing landplane models One such was the Hansa Brandenburg KDW adapted by the company s chief designer Ernst Heinkel from his Hansa Brandenburg D I 2 3 The D I was a single seat scout with novel and distinctive star strutter wing bracing On each side of the aircraft four vee struts two facing up two facing down were joined by their vertices at a point midway between the upper and lower wings forming an eight armed star configuration that gave the plane its nickname Spinne spider 3 4 The KDW was essentially the D I with a small increase in wingspan and mounted on a twin float chassis To counteract the keel effect resulting from the floats which were below the aircraft s centre of gravity vertical tailfin area was added below and later above the fuselage Even with the added tailfin area the aircraft s lateral stability its tendency to return from a bank to vertical flight was below par 5 Moreover the deep fuselage tended to blanket the small tailfin and rudder making directional stability and control very poor 3 Operational history editThe KDW was produced in Austria Hungary under license by Phonix 6 58 were built in five production batches The first batch entered combat in late 1916 1 The wings extended well beyond the outboard ends of the star struts and it was found that this unbraced part of the upper wing flexed when the ailerons were actuated reducing their effectiveness Starting with the second batch a light steel tube vee brace was added outboard of the star struts to stiffen the outer upper wing 7 The first three batches were equipped with the 150 hp 110 kW Benz Bz III engine The last two batches 35 aircraft in total were equipped with the 160 hp 120 kW Maybach Mb III engine 7 The first four batches were armed with one fixed Spandau machine gun mounted on the starboard side of the nose The final batch of 20 aircraft delivered between October 1917 and February 1918 were armed with twin Spandau machine guns on either side of the cockpit 8 Production was slow so that many were obsolete almost as soon as they reached their units 1 They were difficult to fly because of the aforementioned poor directional stability Recovery from a spin was a matter of luck 3 Another reason it was unpopular with pilots was that until the final batch the armament was positioned out of their reach making it impossible to clear stoppages while airborne 8 Operators edit nbsp Germany Imperial German NavySpecifications KDW editData from The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft 6 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 8 m 26 ft 3 in Wingspan 9 25 m 30 ft 4 in Height 3 35 m 11 ft 0 in Gross weight 1 040 kg 2 293 lb Powerplant 1 Benz Bz III 6 cyl water cooled inline piston engine 112 kW 150 hp Performance Maximum speed 172 km h 107 mph 93 kn Endurance 2 hrs 30 mins Service ceiling 4 000 m 13 000 ft Armament Guns 1 or 2 fixed forward firing 7 92 mm 0 312 in machine gunsSee also editRelated lists List of military aircraft of Germany List of flying boats and floatplanesNotes edit a b c Angelucci amp Matricardi 1977 p 259 a b Gray amp Thetford 1970 p 56 a b c d Gray amp Thetford 1970 p 64 Imrie 1989 Gleim amp Gleim 2006 p 51 a b Jackson 2005 p 185 a b Gray amp Thetford 1970 p 65 a b Gray amp Thetford 1970 p 66 References editBibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hansa Brandenburg KDW Angelucci Enzo Matricardi Paolo 1977 World Aircraft Origins World War I Maidenhead UK Sampson Low Gray Peter Thetford Owen 1970 German Aircraft of the First World War second ed London Putnam Gleim Irvin N Gleim Garrett W 2006 Pilot Handbook eighth ed Gainesville Florida Gleim ISBN 1 58194 448 9 Herris Jack 2012 German Seaplane Fighters of WWI A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes Great War Aviation Centennial Series Vol 2 Charleston S C Aeronaut Books ISBN 978 1 935881 09 4 Imrie Alex 1989 German Naval Air Service London Arms and Armour ISBN 0853689202 Jackson Robert 2005 The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft Bath UK Paragon p 185 ISBN 1 40542 465 6 Owers Colin A 2015 Hansa Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI Volume 2 Biplane Seaplanes Great War Aviation Centennial Series Vol 18 n p Aeronaut Books ISBN 978 1 935881 32 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hansa Brandenburg KDW amp oldid 1138974736, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
