Friedrichshafen FF.41

The Friedrichshafen FF.41 was a large, German-built, three-seat, twin-engine amphibious reconnaissance aircraft designed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen in 1917.

The aircraft was mainly used as a reconnaissance aircraft, but also as a bomber and as a mine-laying aircraft. A torpedo-carrying version, the FF.41AT, was also developed. It had a modified fuselage and a single vertical fin (in comparison to the basic model's three). Only five FF.41AT aircraft were manufactured. According to another information, eight FF.41 were built and six of them were stationed in the Baltic territories. In Vindava (Ventspils) were stationed the planes number 996, 1000 and 1209 and in Angersee the planes number 997, 998 and 999.

Use in Finland
The Finnish Air Force purchased one FF.41AT aircraft from the Germans in Estonia on 26 November 1918, at the end of World War I. It was flown to Sortavala where it was repaired. In 1922, the torpedo-carrying fuselage was changed and the capability to carry torpedoes was removed. This aircraft was in use between 1918-23.

Use in Estonia
The Estonians found an unairworthy Friedrichshafen FF 41 A in the Tallinn hangars. The remains of the wrecked German aeroplane were used to produce the first aeroplane of the indepenedent Estonian Air Force. On 13 March 1919, the Naval Squad was established and the barrack finished in 1921. According to the other information the Estonians were left three planes. One of the was purchased by the Finns and the other two ones in bad conditions were re-built as a new functioning one, which stayed in the Estonian service.

Operators

 * 🇪🇪: Estonian Air Force
 * 🇫🇮: Finnish Air Force
 * German Empire: German Imperial Navy