Focke-Wulf Fw 44

The Focke-Wulf Fw 44 is a 1930s German two-seat biplane known as the Stieglitz ("Goldfinch"). It was produced by the Focke-Wulf company as a pilot training and sport flying aircraft. It was also eventually built under license in several other countries.

Design and development
The Fw 44 was designed as a biplane with conventional layout and straight, non-tapered wings. Its two open cockpits were arranged in tandem, and both cockpits were equipped with flight controls and instruments. The Fw 44 had fixed tailwheel landing gear. It employed ailerons on both upper and lower wings. It did not use flaps. It was flown with a Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine.

The first prototype flew in 1932. After many tests and modifications to increase the plane's durability and aerodynamics, the final Fw 44 proved to have excellent airworthiness.

A second version of the Fw 44 was the Fw 44B, which had an Argus As 8 four-cylinder inverted inline air-cooled engine of 90 kW (120 hp). The cowling for this engine gave the plane a more slender, aerodynamic nose.

20 Fw 44s purchased by China were modified for combat missions and participated in the early stage of the Second Sino-Japanese War until all were lost in action.

The last series version was Fw 44J, which was sold or built on license in several countries around the world. It was equipped with a seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine.

Variants

 * Fw 44B
 * Fw 44C
 * Main production version with minor equipment changes, powered by a seven-cyclinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.
 * Main production version with minor equipment changes, powered by a seven-cyclinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.


 * Fw 44D
 * Fw 44E
 * Fw 44F
 * Fw 44J
 * Final production model, powered by a seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.
 * Fw 44J
 * Final production model, powered by a seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.
 * Final production model, powered by a seven-cylinder Siemens-Halske Sh 14a radial piston engine.

Operators

 * Argentine Air Force
 * Argentine Navy
 * Argentine Naval Aviation
 * Austrian Air Force (1927-1938)
 * Bolivian Air Force
 * Brazilian Air Force
 * Brazilian Navy
 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
 * Bulgarian Air Force
 * Czechoslovakian Air Force (Postwar)
 * Suomen Ilmavoimat
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * Luftwaffe
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * Hungarian Air Force
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * Royal Romanian Air Force
 * 🇸🇰 Slovakia
 * Slovak Air Force (1939-1945)
 * Spanish Air Force
 * Swedish Air Force
 * Swiss Air Force
 * 🇹🇷 : 1937 - 1962)
 * SFR Yugoslav Air Force - Postwar.
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * Royal Romanian Air Force
 * 🇸🇰 Slovakia
 * Slovak Air Force (1939-1945)
 * Spanish Air Force
 * Swedish Air Force
 * Swiss Air Force
 * 🇹🇷 : 1937 - 1962)
 * SFR Yugoslav Air Force - Postwar.
 * Swiss Air Force
 * 🇹🇷 : 1937 - 1962)
 * SFR Yugoslav Air Force - Postwar.
 * SFR Yugoslav Air Force - Postwar.
 * SFR Yugoslav Air Force - Postwar.