Focke Wulf AL-103 Variable Geometry Aircraft

[Jemiba]

A little bit blatant, sorry, the AL-103 wasn't a fast fighter or bomber and not even just a project, but a
one-off experimental aircraft to test questions about stability in flight.
For this purpose in 1933/34 a parasol aircraft was built, powered by an Argus As 10S engine. The wing
sweep could be changed (on the ground) between 10° and 20° and dihedral between 0° and 8°.
span 15.25 m to 15.40 m (dependant on sweep angle), length 11.15 m, height 3.66 m (at 8° dihedral),
TOW 1,450 kg, crew of two (pilot, test operator)

(photos and data from "Der Flieger", March 1962)

 

[VictorXL188]

Further to Jemiba's post, I found some more pictures of the AL-103, together with a GA which shows the sweep angle as dashed lines. One point I did find was that the AL.103 was originally an Albatros project, the L.103, but was taken over by Focke-Wulf, becoming the AL.103, when the WW1 fighter manufacturer was subsumed into that company. The DVL had issued the order to Albatros in 1931, with first flight taking place in 1933. Another point of note, taken from the GA drawing, is that the horizontal tail surfaces were also adjustable and the fact that when the wings were adjusted, this also saw a change in the dihedral angle. However on investigation an alternative source states that the tailplane area was adjustable and that as well as the wing sweep, alternative dihedral angles could be used (http://histaviation.com/albatros_l_103.html). Source info and pics/GA http://www.airwar.ru/enc/other1/albl103.html.

 

[VictorXL188]

Another point which I have noticed, is the similarity of the AL.103 to the AL.102 trainer.

 

[Apophenia]

Another point which I have noticed, is the similarity of the AL.103 to the AL.102 trainer.

A very strong family resemblance. Different wings, obviously, but the Al 103 fuselage was also several feet longer than the Al 102.

BTW, L103 was Albatros' original designation, Al 103 was the later RLM-imposed designation. So, the change in designation hadn't anything to do with the Focke Wulf merger (AFAIK, changed designations like Fw 55 for L102 only occured after Kurt Tank had tweaked the original Albatros design).