EKW C-35
EKW · Switzerland · first flew 1930 · fighter
The EKW C-35 was a Swiss two-seat fighter and reconnaissance biplane developed by the Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte (Federal Construction Works), which served as the primary combat aircraft of the Swiss Air Force in the 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.54 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Swiss two-seat fighter-reconnaissance biplane
- Open cockpit biplane with Hispano-Suiza inline
- Only fighter-class aircraft of Swiss Air Force pre-WWII
A clean two-seat biplane with a liquid-cooled inline engine in a prominent nose, open tandem cockpits, and tapered wings with a notably larger upper span than lower. The inline engine and relatively high speed for a biplane are distinctive.
Specifications
- The EKW C-35 has a length of 9.54 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.08 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 335 km/h (208 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed and built indigenously in Switzerland, the C-35 entered service in 1939 and was the most capable Swiss combat aircraft at the outbreak of World War II. It served throughout the war in a neutral but active air policing role, intercepting aircraft of all belligerents that violated Swiss airspace, including German and Allied aircraft. It was phased out in the late 1940s.
Variants
A small number were built; the design was not substantially modified during production.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the Swiss Air Force from 1939 to the late 1940s, performing active air defence of Swiss neutrality throughout World War II.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.