Messerschmitt M 17

M 17

Messerschmitt M17 in the Deutsches Museum, Munich
Role	Sports plane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Flugzeugbau Messerschmitt Bamberg
Designer	Willy Messerschmitt
First flight	January 1925
Introduction	1925
Primary user	Germany
Number built	8

The M 17 was a German single-engine high-wing sports monoplane. It was designed by Willy Messerschmitt in 1925 in Bamberg. This aircraft won many competitions and allowed Willy Messerschmitt to build his first factory.

Development

The design of the M 17 could be traced back via the powered S 16 and S 15 aircraft to the Messerschmitt-Hirth S 14 glider.^[1] The aircraft was a two-seater almost completely made of wood and weighed only 198 kg (437 lb). The engine was a 22 kW (29 hp) Bristol Cherub II. The pilot had no forward visibility.

In September 1926, pilot Eberhard von Conta, and the writer Werner von Langsdorff flew in an M 17 from Bamberg to Rome. This marked the first time the central Alps were crossed with a light aircraft. The flight lasted more than 14 hours and they had to refuel every three hours, since the tank could hold only 28 L (7 US gal). They reached an altitude of 4,500 m (14,760 ft).

Survivors/Replicas

Only one of the six-eight machines built survived and is today in the Deutsches Museum in Munich.^[2]

A replica was built by the Messerschmitt Foundation (first flight April 14, 2004) and makes regular appearances at the International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin. It weighs 40 kg (90 lb) more than the original due to additional equipment (radio and rescue system) and is now at the Manching Aviation Museum in Ingolstadt, Bavaria.

Messerschmitt M 17 Messerschmitt Foundation replica

Messerschmitt M 17 replica in flight

Specifications

Data from ^[1]^,^[3]

General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Capacity: one, passenger / second pilot
Length: 5.85 m (19 ft 2¼ in)
Wingspan: 11.60 m (38 ft 0⅔ in)
Height: 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Wing area: 10.4 m² (112 ft²)
Empty weight: 186 kg (410 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 370 kg (816 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Cherub II 2-cylinder air-cooled flat engine, 22 kW (29 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 140 km/h
Cruise speed: 125 km/h (78 mph)
Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph)
Range: 600 km (905 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,125 ft)

References

1 2 Smith, J. Richard, Messerschmitt: an aircraft album. (1971). Shepperton: Ian Allan ISBN 0-7110-0224-X
↑ Deutsches Museum
↑ Ugolok Neba

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messerschmitt M17.

M-17 at Ugolok Neba - photos and drawings

Messerschmitt aircraft

Company designations	M 17 M 18 M 19 M 20 M 21 M 22 M 23 M 24 M 25 M 26 M 27 M 28 M 29 M 30 M 31 M 33 M 35 M 36 M 37

RLM designations 1933–45	Bf 108 Bf 109 Bf 109TL Bf 110 Me 155 Bf 161 Bf 162 Bf 163 Me 163 Bf 165 Me 209 Me 210 Me 261 Me 262 Me 263 Me 264 Me 265 Me 309 Me 310 Me 321 Me 323 Me 328 Me 329 Me 334 Me 409 Me 410 Me 509 Me 609

Experimental designations	P 08.01 P.1070 P.1073 P.1075 P.1079 P.1092 P.1095 P.1099 P.1100 P.1101 P.1102 P.1103 P.1104 P.1106 P.1107 P.1108 P.1109 P.1110 P.1111 P.1112

USAAC designations	C-44

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