Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite
Dutch Modelling and Aviation
Hansa-Brandenburg W.29
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History
The Hansa-Brandenburg W-29 was designed by the end of 1917 by Ernst Heinkel as successor of the successful Hansa-Brandenburg W-12.
The German navy demanded a faster aircraft with more fire power to resist the Felixstowe flying boats. The W.29 was a two seat monoplane.
The first production series of six aircraft, numbers 2201 - 2206, was ordered in December 1917. Delivery was in spring 1918.
These six aircraft were equipped with a Benz Bz.lIIb. engine rated 185-195 hp. Remarkable were the six exhausts, pointing upwards at port side of the plane. Also the engine cowling had air intakes.
July 4 the first fight between four W.29s and three Felixstowes occurred. All Felixstowes were shot down and there were no Germans losses.
The W-29 was armed with two fixed forward firing, synchronized Spandau machine guns plus one movable Parabellum machine gun for the observer.
The fuselage resembled its precedent the Hansa-Brandenburg W.12. Also the floats were almost the same. The wing was of a wooden construction covered with doped linen.
The type was very successful and in may 1918 new orders were received, serials 2287- 2300, 2502 - 2536 and 2564 - 2583. These had a (standard Benz Bz III rated 150 hp. The last series of four, 2584 - 2589, was, just like the first series equipped with a Benz B.IIIa rated 185 hp.
The Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 was a so called C-class aircraft.
This C class consisted of two seat aircraft with movable machine guns.
The first series were of model W.29 C3MG.
- MG means extra machine guns.
- FT means wireless transmitter.
- HFT means the type is equipped with a wireless send and receive installation.
So model C2MGHFT is an aircraft with one fixed machine guns; one moveable machine gun and a wireless send and receive installation.
The production series of the W.29 were divided as follows:
Serial | Type | Engine | Order date |
---|---|---|---|
2201 - 2206 | C3MG | Benz Bz. IIIa á 185 hp | December 1917 |
2287 - 2300 | C2MGHFT | Benz Bz. III á 150 hp | April 1918 |
2501 - 2506 | C2MGHFT | Benz Bz. III á 150 hp | April 1918 |
2507 - 2536 | C3MG | Benz Bz. III á 150 hp | April 1918 |
2564 - 2583 | C2MGHFT | Benz Bz. III á 150 hp | Mei 1918 |
2584 - 2587 | C3MG | Benz Bz. IIIa/IIb á 185 hp | Juni 1918 |
2588 - 2589 | C2MGHFT | Benz Bz. IIIa/IIIb á 185 hp | Juni 1918 |
April 1918 the Hansa-Brandenburg W.33 was ordered to succeed the W.29. This larger aircraft was equipped with one Mercedes rated 260 hp and had a wingspan of 15,85 m. Serials 2538 - 2563 were ordered. The first aircraft had two fixed forward firing machine guns and a Maybach engine rated 260 hp. One had one fixed machine gun and a movable 20 mm necker gun for the observer.
Later the larger W.34 with a Fiat engine rated 300 hp was developed, but this was to late to join the war.
Dimensions: | |||
Length: | 9,35 m | Wingspan: | 13,5 m |
Height: | 3,1 m | Wing area: | - m2 |
Weights: | |||
Empty weight: | 1000 kg | Max. start weight: | - kg |
Performances: | |||
Max. speed: | 150 km/hr | Climbing speed: | - m/min |
Cruising speed: | - km/hr | ||
Range: | - km | Service ceiling: | - m |
Miscellaneous: | |||
Engine type: | One Mercedes D-IIIa rated 180 hp | ||
Crew: | One aviator plus one observer /air gunner | ||
Armament: | One or two fixed, forward firing 7,9 mm Spandau LMG 08/15 machine guns; one movable 7,9 mm Parabellum MG 14 machine gun for the observer. |