FVA-1 Schwatze Düvel
Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen · Germany · first flew 1920 · glider
The FVA-1 Schwatze Düvel (Black Devil) was a highly streamlined, thick-winged cantilever monoplane glider produced in Germany in 1920.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Thick-winged cantilever monoplane glider, covered in black muslin
- Trousers over the landing skids on each side
- Cockpit on the leading edge of the wing
A black glider with a very thick wing, conventional stick and rudder pedals and twin landing skids.
Specifications
- The FVA-1 Schwatze Düvel has a length of 5.6 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.3 m (31 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built by the Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen, formed by Theodore von Kármán and Wolfgang Klemperer, for the 1920 Rhön meeting at the Wasserkuppe. To keep costs low it was covered in black muslin, with cardboard on the wing leading edges.
Variants
A refined version was produced as the FVA-2 Blaue Maus, with a lower seating position, more span and area and a lower empty weight.
Where you'll see it
At the 1920 Rhön meeting, Klemperer flew it three times on 3 September, making the first bungee launches. The longest flight was 1.830 km in 142 seconds. One was built.
Related aircraft
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