Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz
Focke-Wulf · Germany · first flew 1932 · light aircraft
The Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz (Goldfinch) was a German two-seat biplane trainer that became the standard primary trainer for the Luftwaffe in the 1930s and was widely exported. Its docile handling made it ideal for ab initio military pilot training.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German 1930s biplane primary trainer with two open tandem cockpits
- Widely exported and licence-built in Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, and Austria
- Classic parasol/biplane trainer with radial or inline engine options
Classic biplane trainer with single-bay wings, tandem open cockpits, a radial or inline engine cowling, and fixed undercarriage with wheel spats.
Specifications
- The Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz has a length of 6.7 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Kurt Tank, the Fw 44 first flew in 1932 and was adopted by Germany's covert rearmament programme as its primary trainer. It was exported to numerous countries and licence-built in Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Austria, and Bulgaria. The Fw 44 trained thousands of Luftwaffe pilots before and during World War II, and export variants continued flying long after the war in South America.
Variants
Several sub-variants differed in engine fit — the Fw 44C and Fw 44J were the most common, using Siemens Sh 14A radial or Argus As 8 inline engines.
Where you'll see it
Standard primary trainer for the Luftwaffe from the mid-1930s through WWII; export and licence-built versions served in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Sweden, Finland, Austria, and Bulgaria.
Related aircraft
- Focke-Wulf Fw 43 Falke
- Focke-Wulf Fw 55
- Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stösser
- Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Weihe
- Arado Ar 66
- Arrow Aircraft Active
- Beechcraft Staggerwing
- Beechcraft Staggerwing Model 17
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.