Raab-Katzenstein RK-26

RK-26 Tigerschwalbe
275px
Type	Training aircraft
Manufacturer	Raab-Katzenstein ASJA
Designed by	Gerhard Fieseler
Maiden flight	By the end of the 1920s
Status	retired
Primary users	Swedish Air Force Finnish Air Force
Number built	Raab-Katzenstein: ? ASJA: 25

Raab-Katzenstein RK-26 Tigerschwalbe was a German twin-seat biplane trainer aircraft designed by Gerhard Fieseler at the end of the 1920s.

Design and development

In December, 1930, Fieseler was invited by the Swedish Air Force to present his aircraft for the Swedish aircraft manufacturing company ASJA. Flygapnet was in need of a new trainer and the RK-26 was an interesting aircraft. Fieseler had recently won a world aerobatics championship with an RK-26. ASJA then decided to buy one aircraft. It was tested with different engine configurations by Flygapnet, who later ordered 25 aircraft from ASJA.

Operational history

The trainer was given the designation Sk 10 by Flygapnet. It was used between 1932 and 1945, but was quite controversial during its active life. This was partly due to changes in the design, which made the aircraft 200 kg heavier than the original, and this changed its flight characteristics drastically. The aircraft was involved in many accidents. Of the 25 delivered aircraft, 18 were written off.

One aircraft, the SE-ADK was purchased in 1934 by a civilian, L. Hemmeringer. When the Winter War began, Hemmeninger donated the aircraft to Finland. The aircraft ended up being used by the Swedish Voluntary Air Force from 9 February, 1940. The aircraft was painted in Finnish colors, but was used quite sparingly, due to lack of spares and the bad condition of its engine. Most of the time it was standing at the air force base in Veitsiluoto.

Survivors

One Sk 10, the only remaining Tigerschwalbe, is preserved at the Flygvapenmuseum.

Operators

Template:AUT

Template:FIN

Template:SWE

Specifications (RK-26)

Data from Thulinista Hornettiin

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
• Height: 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 20.20 m² (217.3 ft²)
• Empty weight: kg (lb)
• Loaded weight: kg (lb)
• Useful load: kg (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,100 kg (2,420 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Lynx 7-cylinder radial engine, 149-160 kW (200-215 hp)PS

Performance

• Never exceed speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Maximum speed: 190 km/h (102 knots, 117 mph)
• Cruise speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Stall speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Range: km (nm, mi)
• Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)

Sources

• Heinonen, Timo: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy, 1992, ISBN 951-95688-2-4

See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany
• List of military aircraft of Sweden

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Raab-Katzenstein RK-26".