Henrich Focke Aircraft Designations

Henrich Focke Aircraft Designations

Henrich Focke built at least one aircraft with his brother, Wilhelm Focke. The first powered design involving Henrich was the 1910 'Bremer Ente' ('Bremen Duck') canard aircraft (which proved too heavy to fly). [1] Henrich Focke then joined forces with Georg Wulf and Dr. Werner Naumann.

Early Focke-Wulf aircraft designs received works designations consisting of a role letter - A, F, GL, K, S, and W -- followed by a type number (which were assigned more or less consecutively). In pre-WWII publications, the type numbers are sometimes given in Roman numerals. This designation system was first used on the A 7 of 1921 and then applied retroactively to Focke's previous aircraft designs.

Alas, I do not know what the prefix letters stand for. It's tempting to suggest Austausch (Convertible), Flugzeug (Aircraft), Große Leichtflugzeug (Large Light aircraft), Kampf (Combat), Spezial (Special) ... or Schule or Sport ..., and Wasserflugzeug (Seaplane). But these are guesses only (although Wasser is a very safe guess).

Some sources display early Focke-Wulf designations with hyphens (eg: A-7), others without spaces (eg: A7). I have chosen to standard designations with a space (eg: A 7). A few Focke-Wulf designations numbers were non-consecutive (eg: the S 1 and S 2 trainers).

Sub-types were given a suffix letter. Until 1932, this suffix was a small letter. After 1932, suffixes were capital letters.

One anomaly is the S 39 reconnaissance monoplane. For no obvious reason this prototype is often referred to as the Focke-Wulf 39B. Ignoring the early capitalization, the omission of the role letter is odd. But the suffix is odder still since there doesn't seem to have ever been an 'S 39A' (unless this was an unknown, unbuilt project?). The S 39 is also sometimes dubbed the 'Fw 39' ... but that's jumping the gun.

The Focke-Wulf works system of designation continued until 1932 when it was replaced by a national numbering system (begun by the Heereswaffenamt, made mandatory in 1933 by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). Under this system, Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH was given the identifier code 'Fw' and assigned blocks of numbers.

While 'Fw 39' was not an RLM number, [2] Focke-Wulf was assigned '30' as 8-30 for the licensed Cierva C.30 autogyro ('8' being the RLM designator for powered aircraft). But the company doesn't seem to have taken this up -- there are 'Heuschrecke' ('Grasshopper') references to 'Fw C.30' (and even Fw C.19a) but 'Fw 30' seems to be a post-war rationalization.

To save space, I've used 'c/n' rather than 'WerkNr' for construction numbers.

Abbreviations include DVS for Deutsche Verkehrsflieger-Schule (German Civil Aviation Pilot Training Center).

'Missing' Focke-Wulf designations may cover licensed aircraft, eg: the Cierva C.19 autogyro; Albatros L75, L78, L101, and L102 variants (see Fw 55); and Heinkel HE 5 and HE 9 float monoplanes.

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[1] The design was an evolution of Wilhelm Focke's 1909 'Ente' (built in the Potsdam workshop of Dr Edmund Rumpler). Henrich not involved in any way with the 1909 'Ente'.

[2] The RLM reserved the '39' number for DFS (applied to the 1935 Delta IV flying-wing).

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Henrich Focke Aircraft Designs

A 1 -- 1908 homebuilt hang glider (Drachenflieger)
- A 1: Built with brother Wilhelm, Patent nr. 238542*
-- * Glider with successive, different sizes of wing
-- Speculative (retroactive designation)

F 2 - 1909-1910 canard a/c, 1 x 8 hp NSU engine,* proved unflyable
- F 2: Some say motor glider, taxi-capable only, wing 20 m2
- * Presum'ly powered by 451cc 1-cyl (from NSU 6/8 PS van)
-- Speculative (retroactive desig.), aka 'Bremer Ente' ('Bremen Duck')

A 3 - 1912 Taube-style 2-seat monoplane, 1 x 8 hp NSU engine
- A 3: Resig. with Kolthoff and Wulf, proved underpowered*
-- * Unflyable, raised elevators (poss. twin, uneven spans?)
-- Retroactive designation, aka A III
-- Bruno Lange calls this the A.4 (A.3 being a pusher monoplane)

F 4 -- 1913* canard monoplane, 40 hp NSU engine, span 12 m
- F 4: Retroactive designation, aka Kolthoff-Focke A IV
-- * Some sources say F 4 completed (klappte) in 1912
-- Bruno Lange calls this design Ente (with no designation)

A 5 -- 1913* Taube-style 2-seat monoplane, 50 hp Argus Typ 4
- A 5: [Possibly a reworking of the underpowered A 3]
-- * Some sources say A 5 airframe completed in 1912
-- A 5: aka Focke-Kolthoff-Wulf-Taube A.5

A 6 -- 1914 Taube-style 2-seat monoplane, 50 hp Argus Typ 4
- A 6: Modified A 5 (radiator no longer behind the engine). Built in 1913/14

A 7 -- 1921 2-seat shoulder-wing monoplane, span 14.00 m
- A 7: 1921, 1 x 50 hp Argus 4-cyl,* aka Storch (Stork)
-- * 4-cyl Argus Typ 4 'recycled' from prewar A 6 airframe
- A 7: 1922, 1 x 55hp Siemens & Halske Sh 10 5-cyl radial
-- Photo: http://heureka-stories.de/_documents/Focke%20Wulf%20A7%20A.JPG

x 8 to x 15 -- [??]

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Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG (later GmbH ??) - Nov 1923
(NB: Bremer Flugzeugbau AG from Oct to Nov 1923)

A 16 - 1924 1+3-4 high-wing monoplane transport, span 13.90 m, x 21
- A 16 : 1924, 1 x 75 hp Siemens & Halske Sh 7 7-cyl radial*
-- * Others powered by 96 hp Siemens Sh 11 5-cyl radial engines
- A 16a: 1 x 100 hp Mercedes DI (beside pilot), wider fuselage
- A 16b: 1 x 75 hp Junkers L1 upright 6-cyl inline engine
- A 16c: 1927, 1 x 125 hp Siemens Sh 14, re-engined A 16
- A 16d: 1 x 120 hp Mercedes D.II upright 6-cyl inline
- A 16e: [??]
-- A 16 of wooden const'n, plywood-covered wings/fuselage

A 16 developments: A 20 Habicht, A 28 Habicht, A 33 Sperber

A 17 - 1917 Möwe (Gull) high-wing monoplane, 2 + 8 pax, span 20 m
- A 17 : Prototype, 1 x 420 hp Gnome-Rhône Jupiter 9-cyl, x 1
- A 17a: Prod'n vers., 1 x 480 hp GR 9A or Siemens Jupiter, x 11
-- A 17a: 1 x 'Kinder-Möwe' sight-seeing conv., 1932
- A 17b: Conversion with 1 x Siemens-Halske Sh 20,* x 1 conv.
-- * The Sh 20 was one vers. of 'Germanized' Gnome-Rhône Jupiter
- A 17c: 1933 A 17a conv. with 1 x Junkers Jumo 5B, x 2 conv.**
-- ** c/n 49 and c/n.51 conv. to Junkers VO-6 diesel engines

GL 18 1926 high-wing monoplane transport, 1+4 pax, span 16 m
- GL 18 : 2 x Junkers L1a, c/n 28, D-967, flew Aug 1926, x 1
- GL 18a: 2 x Siemens Sh 11, c/n 30, D-1066, to DVS
- GL 18b: As GL 18a but with wider fuselage, x 1
- GL 18c: 1928, 2 x Siemens Sh 11, x 1 c/n 31, D-1097

F 19 - Ente (Duck) 1927 canard transport, aka 'Focke-Ente'
- F 19 : 1927, 2 x Siemens Sh 11, span 14 m (canard span 5.0 m)
- F 19a: 1930, 2 x Siemens Sh 12, span 14 m (canard span 5.2 m)
-- F 19a registered D-1960/D-OBIR, 1+4 demonstrator transport

A 20 - Habicht (Hawk) 1928 1+4 pax feederliner, span 16.0 m
- A 20 : 1 x Daimler (Mercedes) DIIa 6-cyl inline, x 3
- A 20a: 1 x Wright R-790 Whirlwind 9-cyl radial, x 1

A 21 - 1927 Photomöwe aerial photography/mapping a/c, x 2*
- A 21: A 17 deriv., 1 x 450 hp 1 x BMW VIu, dark room
-- * D-1737 (c/n 54, to DVL, 1929) and D-1738 (c/n 56)

GL 22 - 1928 GL 18 devel., 1+4 pax transport, span 16.0 m
- GL 22: 2 x Siemens Sh 12 radials, to DVS for crew training
-- [?? Does GL 22 explain 'missing' GL 18b designation ??]

K 23 - 1928 Buchfink (Chaffinch) 2-seat reconnaissance plane
- K 23: Destroyed in hangar fire after brief testing

S 24 - 1928 Kiebitz (Peewit) 2-seat sports biplane, x 31
- S 24 : 1 x 82 hp Sh 13 5-cyl, folding wings, span 8.90 m
- S 24a: Schulflugzeug, trainer vers. of S 24
- S 24b: 1 x 82 hp Sh 13 5-cyl, folding wings, span 8.90 m
- S 24c: eg D-1621
-- https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1929/1929 - 0800.html

x 25 - [??]

A 26 - 1930 Möwe, redesignated A 17a as DVL engine test-bed
- A 26: 1 x Siemens-Halske Jupiter 9-cyl radial, D-1752

x 27 - [??]

A 28 - 1928 feederliner, A.20 variant with Bristol Titan 5-cyl

A 29 - Möwe high-wing monoplane, 2 + 8 pax, span 20 m
- A 29 : A 17 devel., 1 x 650 hp BMW VID, improved wing, x 3
- A 29a: 'Saarland', 2 + 8 pax (c/n 63, D-1757), x 1
- A 29b: 1931 conv., 2 + 8 pax, (c/n 61, D-1757), x 1

8-30 - 8-30 reserved by RLM for licensed Cierva C.30 autogyro

x 31 - [??]

A 32 - 1930 Bussard (Buzzard) A 20 devel., 1-2 + 6-7 pax, x 5
- A 32: High-wing monoplane, 1 x 320 hp Junkers L5, span 16 m

A 33 - 1930 Sperber (Sparrowhawk) 1+3 pax transport, span 12 m
- A 33: Taxiflugzeug (air taxi), 1 x 145 hp Walter Mars 9-cyl radial

A.34 - [Project] 193? shoulder-wing mail plane, 1 x Hornet radial engine

x 35 - [??]

A 36 - 1931 Mastgans (Goose) low-wing mail carrier, span 14 m
- A 36: 2-seat spatted monoplane, 1 x 525 hp P&W R-1690 Hornet
-- Sole prototype A 36 used briefly on DLH trials

x 37 - [??]

A 38 Möwe 1931 3 + 10 airliner (pax/freight), span 20 m, x 4
- A 38 : 1 x 510 hp Gnome-Rhône Jupiter IV
- A 38b: Re-engined with 1 x 500 hp Siemens Sh 20u Jupiter
-- [?? A 38 all-freight version given its own designation ??]
-- https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1931/1931 - 0897.html

S 39 - 1931-32 2-seat recce parasol monoplane, x 1
- S 39: 1 x Sh 22B Jupiter, c/n 98 D-1708 to Soviet Union
-- S 39 aka Focke-Wulf 39B, 'Fw 39', sometimes S 39B
-- S 39 employed at Reichswehr's Lipetsk, Russia training field

A 40 - 1932 2-seat recce parasol monoplane, aka Fw 40, x 1
-- A 40 employed at Reichswehr's Lipetsk, Russia training field

x 41 - [??]

Fw 42 - [Project] 1933 canard config. 6-seat medium bomber
- Fw 42: Retract. tricycle u/c, 2 x 750 hp BMW VI, span 25 m

A 43 - 1932 Falke (Falcon) 3-seat high-wing cabin monoplane, x 1
- A 43: Mixed constr'n, 1 x 220 hp Argus As 10, span 10.0 m
-- A 43 aka Fw 43, prototype only

Fw 44 - Stieglitz (Goldfinch) 1932 2-seat biplane trainer
- Fw 44A: 1 x 150 hp Siemens Sh 14a 7-cyl radial
- Fw 44B: 1 x 135 hp Argus As 8 inverted 4-cyl
- Fw 44C: Production vers. of Fw 44A
- Fw 44D: Prod'n vers. of Fw 44A, equip. differences
- Fw 44E: Production vers. of Fw 44B
- Fw 44F: Prod'n vers. of Fw 44A, equip. differences
- Fw 44G-H - [??]
- Fw 44J: Prod'n vers. of Fw 44A, equip. differences

x 45 - [??]
x 46 - [??]

A 47 Hohengeier (Vulture) 1931 2-seat parasol monoplane, x 36
- A 47a : 1931 prototype, met'l a/c, tested by RDL, D-2295
- A 47b : [??]
- Fw 47C: Prod'n vers., 240 hp Argus As 10C, span 17.75 m
- Fw 47D: Prod'n vers., Argus As 10D engine
- Fw 47E: prod'n vers., Argus As 10E engine
- Fw 47M: prod'n vers., Argus As 10E engine
-- aka Fw 47 after 1932
-- https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1932/1932 - 1329.html

x 48 - [??] ... x 54 - [??]
- No.s 48-54 poss. omitted to fit into RLM desig. system

Fw 55 - 1932 Albatros L 102 deriv. with 240 hp Argus As 10C
- Fw 55L: 'Land' wheeled u/c version, as per L 102
- Fw 55W: 'Wasser' twin-float seaplane sequiplane

[Fw 56, Fw 57, and Fw 58 were Kurt Tank designs]

Fw 61 -- 1936 single-seat twin-rotor research helicopter, x 2
- Fw 61: aka Focke-Achgelis Fa 61

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Anomalous Henrich Focke Aircraft Designations

S Series (Schule? Sport? Spezial?) - Non-Sequential

S 1 - 1925 shoulder-wing monoplane trainer/sportsplane), span 12.00 m
-- S 1 series developed as a direct successor to the A 7
- S 1 : 1925, 1 x 25 kW Siemens & Halske Sh 10* 5-cyl radial
-- * Later re-engined with ?? hp Siemens & Halske Sh 4
- S 1a: 1926, 1 x 25 kW Siemens & Halske Sh 5 radial engine**
-- ** 2 x S 1a (c/n 20 & 21) fitted with Sh 12 radials
- S 1b: 1 x Junkers L1 inline engine

S 2 - 1927 side-by-side strut-braced parasol wing
- S 2: 1 x 60 kW Siemens & Halske Sh 11 radial engine
-- S 2 suffered from poor visibility, devel. abandoned

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W Series (Wasser?) - Non-Sequential

W 4 - 1927 recce float biplane, span 12.35 m, x 1 c/n 55
- W 4: Catapultable seaplane, 1 x Gnôme-Rhône Jupiter VI
-- W 4 D-1730 to DVL (tested by E-Stelle See Travemünde)
-- http://histaviation.com/Focke-Wulf_W4.html

W 7 - 1932 recce float biplane, span 13 m, x 1 c/n 112
- W 7 D-2236 to Lipetsk, Russia (on wheeled u/c), 1932

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Anomalous Focke-Wulf Albatros Designations

Focke-Wulf AL 101D - prob. same as licensed L 101D, eg: D-2808/D-ETYZ
-- AL possibly for the Albatros Flugzeugwerke GmbH's RLM code, 'Al'

Focke Wulf Fw 102 - prob. same as licensed L 102, eg: D3394

Fw AL 103 - 1933/34 2-seat experimental Variable Geometry Aircraft
-- http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,19133.msg184772.html#new

Also see Fw 55 listing (above)

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Un-numbered WWII Henrich Focke Project Aircraft

Focke Rochen (Rays) - [Project] single fan-in-wing (with coaxial rotors) VTOL concept
- Focke Rochen - 1944 devel, 1957 patent, aka Schnellflugzeug Rochen
-- Ringflügler (ring-shaped flying wing), longitudinal and transverse stability provided by the wing itself
-- Also see Borgward projects below

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Focke, Achgelis & Co GmbH - see Focke-Achgelis Aircraft Designations

see -- http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,25140.0.html

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Post-WWII Henrich Focke Aircraft Projects

Convertiplan - [Project] 1952 Amsterdam design for 4-rotor VTOL

Heliconair Convertiplano - 1953 '4-poster' VTOL based on Spitfire*
- HC-I : 2+6 pax convertiplane, 2 x forward rotors, 2 x aft rotors
-- HC-I: As planned, 3,875 lb.st AS Double-Mamba ASMD.4 (export banned)
-- HC-I had turbines mounted behind pax cabin
- HC-Ib: As built, Wright R-3350-DA3 Turbo Compound 18-cyl radial
-- HC-Ib: Pax cabin deleted, engine mounted directly behind cockpit
- HC-II: [Project] 4 x 3,000 lb.st GE T58 turbines,** pax cabin restored
-- * Components taken from Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk XIVe (RM874)
-- ** As reported. To me, the GE T58s seem to big for this application

IPD BF-1 - 1956* Beija-Flor (Hummingbird) 2-seat light helicopter
- BF-1: nose-mounted 225 hp Continental E225, flown 1959
-- BF-1 aka Beija-Flor I, rigid rotor (diameter 9.0 m)
-- * Designed in 1956 at Centre Tecnico de Aeronautica (CTA)
- BF-2: [Project] Beija-Flor II, refined IPD BF-1 design
-- https://sites.google.com/site/stingrayslistofrotorcraft/ipd-bf-2

Borgward BFK-1 - 1958 Kolibri (Hummingbird) 3-seat utility helicopter, x 2
- BFK-1: 1 x 260 hp Lycoming TVO-435-A1B,* 9.4 m rotor diameter
-- BFK-1 had 3-bladed MR, 'V'-tail with 3-bladed TR on each tip
-- * TVO = Turbocharged Vertical Opposed, 260 hp @ 3200 rpm
-- Borgward BFK-1 aka Borgward-Focke BFK-1 Kolibri

Borgward-Focke Atlas - 1958 [Project] twin-rotor flying crane
- Atlas: Similar to Fa 223, open frame fwd fuse and rotor supports

Borgward-Focke Herkules - 1958 [Project] large flying crane
- Herkules: Large cylindrical fuselage, 2 x lateral + 2 x tandem rotors

Borgward-Focke Urubu - 1958 [Project] large flying crane
- Urubu: [No details other than 'modular' as were other cranes]

Borgward-Focke Rochen - 1958 [Project] Schnellhubschrauber
- Wartime Ringflügler concept further developed at Borgward

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Anyone have any other Henrich Focke designs?

Don´t forget the I.P.D. B.F. 2

Great list as usual! Is the sometimes seen designation "Fw 19 Ente" simply a mistake? Or was that assigned retroactively?

[Fw 56, Fw 57, and Fw 58 were Kurt Tank designs]

Click to expand...

One question here: What is the logic, exactly? To have a separate topic for Tank Designations? Because this gives me a feeling that Henrich Focke was not involved in any of these or any of the later Focke-Wulf types...

Anyone have any other Henrich Focke designs?

Click to expand...

There was a Swedish biplane that appears as the "Focke-Wulf Sk.12", but I believe it to be just a license-built Fw 44. Is that right?

Henrich Focke also designed the Atlas, Herkules and Uruburu flying cranes for Borgward after the war, derived from his Fa 223, Fa 284 and Fa 325 wartime designs (not in that order).

Hi,


also as I know,the Focke-Wulf A.46 was a light aircraft,but I will check.

As always information on the designations of early aeroplanes is conflicting, especially in the case of retroactive designations…

Concerning the pre-1918 Focke aeroplanes some additions from Lange's Typenhandbuch der deutschen Luftfahrttechnik, p. 19. Some designations differ with the posting of Apophenia.

A 1 -- 1908 homebuilt hang glider (Drachenflieger)
- A 1: Built with brother Wilhelm, Patent nr. 238542*
-- * Glider with successive, different sizes of wing
-- Speculative (retroactive designation)

F 2 - 1909-1910 canard a/c, 1 x 8 hp NSU engine,* proved unflyable
- F 2: Some say motor glider, taxi-capable only, wing 20 m2
- * Presum'ly powered by 451cc 1-cyl (from NSU 6/8 PS van)
-- Speculative (retroactive desig.), aka 'Bremer Ente' ('Bremen Duck')

Click to expand...

Lange agrees that the first two designs were gliders. He calls them A.1 and A.2.

A 3 - 1912 Taube-style 2-seat monoplane, 1 x 8 hp NSU engine
- A 3: Resig. with Kolthoff and Wulf, proved underpowered*
-- * Unflyable, raised elevators (poss. twin, uneven spans?)
-- Retroactive designation, aka A III

Click to expand...

This monoplane is probably what Lange calls the A.4, which had a NSU engine and a pull propeller.

For Lange the preceding A.3 is a 1910 canard monoplane with the same 8 hp NSU and a push propeller. A motorised A.2???

Both were unable to fly.

F 4 -- 1913* canard monoplane, 40 hp [?? type ??] engine
- F 4: Retroactive designation, aka Kolthoff-Focke A IV
-- * Some sources say F 4 completed (klappte) in 1912

Click to expand...

This is probably the plane Lange simply calls Ente. It was a canard monoplane with a 40 hp ENV engine with push propeller. Span 12 m; flying weight 350 kg.

A 5 -- 1913* Taube-style 2-seat monoplane, 50 hp Argus Typ 4
- A 5: [Possibly a reworking of the underpowered A 3]
-- * Some sources say A 5 airframe completed in 1912

Click to expand...

A.5 - Taube type monoplane with 1 x 50 hp Argus. Designed by Heinrich Focke, Hans Kolthoff and Georg Wulf (also known as Focke-Kolthoff-Wulf-Taube A.5). Short flights in 1912.

A 6 -- 1914 monoplane, 50 hp engine [?? Argus inline ??]
- A 6: [Possibly a reworking of the underpowered A 3]

Click to expand...

A.6 - Modified A.5 (radiator no longer behind the engine). Built in 1913/14.

Thanks folks, excellent additions/corrections.

Skyblazer: AFAIK, the A 47 was the last Focke-Wulf aircraft with Henrich Focke involved as designer (if you consider the Fw 61 to actually be a Focke-Achgelis design). With such a distinct split between chief designers' work, it made sense to me to divide Henrich Foche from Kurt Tank ... who I'm hoping someone else will cover

Thanks for the reminder about Atlas, Herkules and Urubu cranes (which have now been added).

"Focke-Wulf Sk.12", but I believe it to be just a license-built Fw 44. Is that right?"
'Sk' is just the Swedish Air Force designation for trainers (Skol = School).
http://www.designation-systems.net/non-us/sweden.html

Tuizentfloot: Great stuff! I've incorporated Bruno Lange's take as alternative designations. Thanks for that.

Maveric: I've now expanded the Beija-Flor II listing.

What was this one of 1910;

http://adl-luftfahrthistorik.de/dok/Focke-Wulf_Ente.pdf

This is the A.4 aka F.4.

Maveric said:

This is the A.4 aka F.4.

Click to expand...

Thanks.

My dear Apophenia,

A.34 was a shoulder wing mail plane Project,powered by Hornet radial engine.

Thanks hesham .. the A.34 has now been added.

Apophenia said:

Thanks hesham .. the A.34 has now been added.

Click to expand...

OK my dear Apophenia.

The Entwurf series ;

transfer to this thread;

hesham said:

The Entwurf series ; ...

Click to expand...

I don't believe that any of those designs relate to Henrich Focke. Perhaps your Fw Entwurf series belongs in Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH designations thread?