Friedrichshafen FF.21
Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen · Germany · first flew 1914 · light aircraft
The Friedrichshafen FF.21 was a German biplane flying boat built by the Friedrichshafen Aircraft Company in 1914 for an aircraft competition that was cancelled when the First World War began.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-bay sesquiplane wings
- Two open-frame booms extending aft to carry the tail
- Single pusher engine at the rear of the hull driving the propeller through a driveshaft
A flying boat with a motorboat-like hull, two-bay sesquiplane wings and twin tail booms, with the propeller above the spray.
Specifications
- The Friedrichshafen FF.21 has a length of 11.5 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.9 m (55 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Paul Jaray designed it as an improved FF.11 to compete in the 1914 Baltic Seaplane Competition. The Oertz yacht company in Hamburg built the hull, which was clearly derived from a motorboat, and the aircraft first flew in July 1914.
Variants
It was powered by a 150 metric horsepower Benz Bz.III straight-six engine, mounted at the rear of the hull and driving a four-bladed wooden propeller through a driveshaft and bevel gear.
Where you'll see it
Its fate is unknown: it is not known to have been taken over by the Imperial German Navy's Naval Air Service when the war began.
Related aircraft
- Friedrichshafen FF.17
- Friedrichshafen FF.19
- Friedrichshafen FF.29
- Friedrichshafen FF.33
- AEG B.I
- AEG B.II
- Blackburn Type L
- Caproni Ca.25
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