The Friedrichshafen FF.54 was a German experimental quadruplane that was developed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen during the First World War.

FF.54
General information
TypeQuadruplane fighter
National originGermany
ManufacturerFlugzeugbau Friedrichshafen
Number built1
History
First flight1917

Design and development

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It was equipped with a 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIa in-line engine. The armament consisted of two LMG 08/15 machine guns that fired through the propeller. The first flight took place on October 31, 1917. The aircraft crashed on the first flight.[1] It was later rebuilt as a triplane, with the second wing from the top removed. The improved version was flown in May 1918, and crashed again. As a result, the project was discontinued in September 1918.

Specifications

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Data from Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH,[2] The Complete Book of Fighters[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)

Performance Armament

  • Guns: 2 x fixed forward-firing LMG 08/15 machine-guns

References

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  1. ^ "Friedrichshafen FF54". flyingmachines.ru. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  2. ^ Kober, Theodor von; Borzutzki, Siegfried (1993). Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH (in German) (1. Aufl ed.). Burbach. pp. 132-135. ISBN 978-3927513600.
  3. ^ Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander. p. 235. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.

Bibliography

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  • Borzutzki, Siegfried (1993). Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH: Diplom-Ingenieur Theodor Kober [Friedrichshafen Aircraft Company: Diploma-Engineer Theodore Kober] (in German). Berlin: Burbach. ISBN 3-927513-60-1.
  • Herris, Jack (2016). Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 21. Charleston, South Carolina: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-35-3.