Focke-Wulf Fw 159
Focke-Wulf · Germany · first flew 1935 · fighter
The Focke-Wulf Fw 159 was an experimental German fighter of the 1930s, designed by Kurt Tank, which never reached production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Main undercarriage retracting rearward completely into the lower fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol wing configuration carried over from the Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stosser
- Enclosed cockpit
- Main undercarriage retracting rearward completely into the lower fuselage
A parasol-winged single-seat fighter with an enclosed cockpit and an inverted V-12 engine in the nose, resembling a heavier Fw 56 trainer.
Specifications
- The Focke-Wulf Fw 159 has a length of 9.77 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.4 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 385 km/h (239 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a heavier variant of the Fw 56 with a retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit, built as an entry for the 1934 Armed Aircraft IV fighter competition. The first prototype was ready in the spring of 1935 and used a Junkers Jumo 210 engine.
Variants
The first prototype, the V1, was destroyed in a crash-landing after the main undercarriage failed to deploy. The V2 had a reinforced undercarriage.
Where you'll see it
The type was considered inferior to the Heinkel He 112 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 and was not produced, and three were built.
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- Arado Ar 80
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.35 Scimitar
- Bernard H 110
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