Fieseler Fi 98

The Fieseler Fi 98 was a dive-bomber designed in response to the same RLM specification as the Henschel Hs 123, but that never progressed beyond the prototype stage. That specification was issued on 11 February 1934 and called for a robust aircraft capable of serving as a dive-bomber and ground attack aircraft. Fieseler produced a design for a biplane with staggered slightly unequal wings - the upper wing had a wider span than the lower wing. The cockpit was placed behind the trailing edge of the lower wing. The most unusual feature of the Fi 98 was its dual horizontal control surfaces, with the moving parts mounted low on the tail and a second, smaller, fixed surface mounted at the top of the fin. The fuselage of the Fi 98 was built with an all-metal shell, while the wings and tail surfaces consisted of a metal framework with fabric covering.

The Fi 98 made its maiden flight early in 1935, by which time it was clear that the Henschel Hs 123 was going to be chosen as the 'first phase' dive-bomber and work had already begun on the 'second phase' monoplane dive-bombers, amongst them the Junkers Ju 87. Fieseler had been awarded a contract to produce three prototype Fi 98s, but only the first had been completed when work on the project stopped in 1936.

Fi 98a
Engine: BMW 132a nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Power: 650hp
Crew: 1
Wing span: 37ft 9in
Length: 24ft 3in
Height: 9ft 10in
Empty Weight: 3,197lb
Loaded Weight: 4,762lb
Max Speed: 183mph at 6,560ft
Cruising Speed: 168mph
Climb rate: 1min 7sec to 3,280ft
Service Ceiling: 29,530ft
Range: 292 miles
Armament: Two forward firing 7.9mm MG 17 machine guns
Bomb-load: Four 110lb bombs

Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935-1945, Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage. Combines a good background history of the Luftwaffe with a comprehensive examination of its aircraft, from the biplanes of the mid 1930s to the main wartime aircraft and on to the seemingly unending range of experimental designs that wasted so much effort towards the end of the war. A useful general guide that provides an impressively wide range of information on almost every element of the Luftwaffe (Read Full Review)
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (1 April 2010), Fieseler Fi 98 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_fieseler_fi_98.html

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