Hansa-Brandenburg W.33
Hansa-Brandenburg · Germany · first flew 1918 · transport aircraft
The Hansa-Brandenburg W.33 was a German twin-float reconnaissance seaplane of World War One designed by Ernst Heinkel, intended for coastal patrol and maritime reconnaissance duties over the North Sea and Baltic. It entered service in the final months of the war.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German WWI-era twin-float seaplane for coastal reconnaissance
- Biplane floatplane with twin main floats and a V-strut wing bracing arrangement
- Designed by Ernst Heinkel for Hansa-Brandenburg
Equal-span biplane floatplane with twin main floats, V-strut interplane bracing, and a large inline engine in the nose; the twin-float undercarriage and unequal interplane strut arrangement are the primary recognition features.
Specifications
- The Hansa-Brandenburg W.33 has a length of 11.1 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.85 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 170 km/h (106 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1918, the W.33 entered limited service with the Imperial German Navy in the final year of WWI. Too few were available to make a significant impact before the Armistice. Post-war, the design formed part of Heinkel's accumulated experience in seaplane design that he would later apply to his own company.
Variants
The W.33 was one of several Hansa-Brandenburg floatplane designs; it should not be confused with the later Junkers W.33 landplane of the 1920s which was a completely different aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Operated in very small numbers by the Imperial German Navy in 1918; never used by any Allied power.
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- Hansa-Brandenburg W.12
- Hansa-Brandenburg W.19
- Hansa-Brandenburg G.I
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- Halberstadt C.IX
- Naval Aircraft Factory / Curtiss NC
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