The Raab-Katzenstein KL.1 Schwalbe (Swallow) was a German two-seat biplane produced in the 1920s. About fifty were built and the type became well known as an aerobatic aircraft, performing at many displays in the hands of pilots like Gerhard Fieseler.
In November 1925 test pilot Antonius Raab and engineer Katzenstein formed the Kassel-based company that bears their name. They had previously worked at Dietrich Flugzeugwerke, a company which ran into financial problems in 1925. Their first design, known initially as the KL.1 Schwalbe, was a development of the Dietrich-Gobiet DP.XI. Later, in a rationalisation of the company's naming system, it became the RK.1 Schwalbe.[1][2]
The Schwalbe was a single bay biplane with thick section, unequal span wooden wings which were built around twin spars and fabric covered. The wings had marked stagger and were braced between the spars with forward leaning, steel tube, N-form interplane struts. The lower wing was attached directly to the lower fuselage, from which the inner upper wing was braced with an outward leaning pair of parallel struts to the spars and held over the upper fuselage by a pair of inverted V-struts, one on each side, to the forward spar alone. The wings were straight-tapered in plan, with only slight sweep on the leading edge, out to rounded tips. They also tapered in thickness. The Schwalbe had ailerons on both wings, externally connected with vertical rods. The upper ailerons had large balances to serve both surfaces.[1]
The Schwalbe's rectangular section fuselage had a steel tube structure and was fabric covered. The first examples, designated KL.IA, were powered by a 60 kW (80 hp) Siemens-Halske Sh 11 seven cylinder radial engine, partially enclosed by a duralcowling which left the cylinders projecting for cooling. Its fuel tank was within the upper wing and the oil tank behind a firewall.[1] Two later versions of the Schwalbe, designated KL.1B and KL.IC, were powered by a 82 kW (110 hp) Siemens-Halske Sh 12 nine cylinder radial.[2] The forward open cockpit was under the wing but it was flown solo from the rear cockpit which was over the trailing edge of the lower wing and behind that of the upper wing, where there was a cut-out to increase the pilot's field of view.[1]
A large, almost triangular tailplane was mounted on top of the fuselage and carried generous, curved and balancedelevators. Its fin was small but the rudder large and balanced, reaching down to the keel and working in an elevator cut-out.[1]
The Schwalbe had fixed, conventional landing gear, with its mainwheels on a split axle sprung by rubber cords to V-struts from the lower fuselage and stabilized centrally by a transverse V-strut. There was a short, steel tailskid.[1]
Operational history
Piloted by Raab, the Schwalbe first flew on 16 January 1926.[2] Numbers built are uncertain but have been estimated at forty-two[2] or about fifty-eight.[3] Engines apart, the unknown differences between the variants were small enough to allow several airframes to have been IAs, IBs and ICs over their lifetime.[3]
Several well known pilots used them as aerobatic aircraft, including Gerhard Fieseler who was regarded as the best and most innovative aerobatic pilot of his day.[4] In September 1927 he claimed a world duration record for inverted flight in his Schwalbe KL.IC. at a Zurich meeting,[5] then bettered it later in the month with a fifteen minute flight.[6] He gave aerobatic demonstrations in his Schwalbe during 1927-8 at several other European meetings including Blackpool[7] and Waalhaven.[8]
One Schwalbe was on display at the 1928 Berlin International Aero Show.[9]
^ ab"German aviation 1919-195-45". Retrieved 10 June 2017.
^"Picture caption". Flight. XX (16): 272. 19 April 1928.
^"Picture caption". Flight. XIX (35): 310. 1 September 1927.
^"Upside down records". Flight. XIX (39): 688. 29 September 1927.
^"Picture caption -AIR PAGEANT". Flight. XX (26): 272. 12 July 1928.
^"Picture caption - FLYING AT WAALHAVEN". Flight. XX (26): 647. 26 July 1928.
^"The Berlin International Aero Show". Flight. XX (41): 865. 11 October 1928.
Bibliography
Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
May 04, 2023
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The Raab Katzenstein KL 1 Schwalbe Swallow was a German two seat biplane produced in the 1920s About fifty were built and the type became well known as an aerobatic aircraft performing at many displays in the hands of pilots like Gerhard Fieseler KL 1 SchwalbeKL 1C Schwalbe with pilot Gerhard FieselerRole Sport and aerobatic aircraftNational origin GermanyManufacturer Raab Katzenstein Flugzeugwerke GmbHFirst flight 16 January 1926Number built c 50Developed from Dietrich Gobiet DP XI Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Specifications KL 1A 5 References 6 BibliographyDesign and development EditIn November 1925 test pilot Antonius Raab and engineer Katzenstein formed the Kassel based company that bears their name They had previously worked at Dietrich Flugzeugwerke a company which ran into financial problems in 1925 Their first design known initially as the KL 1 Schwalbe was a development of the Dietrich Gobiet DP XI Later in a rationalisation of the company s naming system it became the RK 1 Schwalbe 1 2 The Schwalbe was a single bay biplane with thick section unequal span wooden wings which were built around twin spars and fabric covered The wings had marked stagger and were braced between the spars with forward leaning steel tube N form interplane struts The lower wing was attached directly to the lower fuselage from which the inner upper wing was braced with an outward leaning pair of parallel struts to the spars and held over the upper fuselage by a pair of inverted V struts one on each side to the forward spar alone The wings were straight tapered in plan with only slight sweep on the leading edge out to rounded tips They also tapered in thickness The Schwalbe had ailerons on both wings externally connected with vertical rods The upper ailerons had large balances to serve both surfaces 1 The Schwalbe s rectangular section fuselage had a steel tube structure and was fabric covered The first examples designated KL IA were powered by a 60 kW 80 hp Siemens Halske Sh 11 seven cylinder radial engine partially enclosed by a dural cowling which left the cylinders projecting for cooling Its fuel tank was within the upper wing and the oil tank behind a firewall 1 Two later versions of the Schwalbe designated KL 1B and KL IC were powered by a 82 kW 110 hp Siemens Halske Sh 12 nine cylinder radial 2 The forward open cockpit was under the wing but it was flown solo from the rear cockpit which was over the trailing edge of the lower wing and behind that of the upper wing where there was a cut out to increase the pilot s field of view 1 A large almost triangular tailplane was mounted on top of the fuselage and carried generous curved and balanced elevators Its fin was small but the rudder large and balanced reaching down to the keel and working in an elevator cut out 1 The Schwalbe had fixed conventional landing gear with its mainwheels on a split axle sprung by rubber cords to V struts from the lower fuselage and stabilized centrally by a transverse V strut There was a short steel tailskid 1 Operational history EditPiloted by Raab the Schwalbe first flew on 16 January 1926 2 Numbers built are uncertain but have been estimated at forty two 2 or about fifty eight 3 Engines apart the unknown differences between the variants were small enough to allow several airframes to have been IAs IBs and ICs over their lifetime 3 Several well known pilots used them as aerobatic aircraft including Gerhard Fieseler who was regarded as the best and most innovative aerobatic pilot of his day 4 In September 1927 he claimed a world duration record for inverted flight in his Schwalbe KL IC at a Zurich meeting 5 then bettered it later in the month with a fifteen minute flight 6 He gave aerobatic demonstrations in his Schwalbe during 1927 8 at several other European meetings including Blackpool 7 and Waalhaven 8 One Schwalbe was on display at the 1928 Berlin International Aero Show 9 Variants Edit Company catalogue advertising the KL IA variant KL IA Original design with 60 kW 80 hp Siemens Halske Sh 11 engine KL IB More powerful 82 kW 110 hp Siemens Halske Sh 12 KL IC Siemens Halske Sh 12 Schwalbe II Version of KL IC built in Greece by AEKKEA RAAB which was established in 1935 Pintsch Schwalbe II derivative by PintschRheinische FR 2 Schwalbe Derivative by Flugzeugbau RheinischeSpecifications KL 1A Edit Raab Katzenstein RK 1a Schwalbe 3 view drawing from L Air January 1 1927 Data from Les Ailes September 1927 1 General characteristicsCrew One Capacity one passenger Length 6 50 m 21 ft 4 in Upper wingspan 8 m 26 ft 3 in Lower wingspan 7 m 23 ft 0 in Height 2 60 m 8 ft 6 in Wing area 17 m2 180 sq ft Empty weight 470 kg 1 036 lb Gross weight 710 kg 1 565 lb Fuel capacity 100 L 22 imp gal 26 US gal Powerplant 1 Siemens Halske Sh 11 7 cylinder radial 60 kW 80 hp nominal Propellers 2 bladed woodenPerformance Maximum speed 152 km h 94 mph 82 kn Cruise speed 140 km h 87 mph 76 kn Stall speed 70 km h 43 mph 38 kn minimum speed Range 500 km 310 mi 270 nmi Service ceiling 3 500 m 11 500 ft Time to altitude 9 min to 1 000 m 3 300 ft References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raab Katzenstein Kl 1 a b c d e f g Serryer J 29 September 1927 L avion Raab Katzenstein Les Ailes 328 3 4 a b c d RK 1 Schwalbe Retrieved 10 June 2017 a b German aviation 1919 195 45 Retrieved 10 June 2017 Picture caption Flight XX 16 272 19 April 1928 Picture caption Flight XIX 35 310 1 September 1927 Upside down records Flight XIX 39 688 29 September 1927 Picture caption AIR PAGEANT Flight XX 26 272 12 July 1928 Picture caption FLYING AT WAALHAVEN Flight XX 26 647 26 July 1928 The Berlin International Aero Show Flight XX 41 865 11 October 1928 Bibliography EditGerdessen Frederik Estonian Air Power 1918 1945 Air Enthusiast No 18 April July 1982 pp 61 76 ISSN 0143 5450 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raab Katzenstein KL 1 Schwalbe amp oldid 1126687577, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
