Raab-Katzenstein RK-26

RK-26 Tigerschwalbe

Role	Training aircraft
Manufacturer	Raab-Katzenstein ASJA
Designer	Gerhard Fieseler
First flight	By the end of the 1920s
Status	retired
Primary users	Swedish Air Force Finnish Air Force
Number built	Raab-Katzenstein: ? ASJA: 25

Raab-Katzenstein RK-26 Tigerschwalbe, also known as the Fieseler F 1 Tigerschwalbe, was a German twin-seat biplane trainer aircraft designed by Gerhard Fieseler by the end of the 1920s.

Design and development

In December 1930, Fieseler was invited by the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) to present his aircraft for the Swedish aircraft manufacturing company ASJA. Flygvapnet was in need for a new trainer, and the RK-26 was an interesting aircraft. Fieseler had recently won a world aerobatics championship with an RK-26. ASJA then decided to buy one aircraft. It was tested with different engine configurations by Flygvapnet, who later ordered 25 aircraft from ASJA.

Operational history

The trainer was given the designation Sk 10 by Flygvapnet. It was used between 1932 and 1945, but was quite controversial during its active life. This was partly due to changes in the design, which made the aircraft 200 kg heavier than the original, and this changed its flight characteristics drastically. The aircraft was involved in many accidents. Of the 25 delivered aircraft, 18 were written off.

One aircraft, the SE-ADK was purchased in 1934 by a civilian, L. Hemmeringer. When the Winter War began, Hemmeninger donated the aircraft to Finland. The aircraft ended up being used by the Swedish Voluntary Air Force from 9 February 1940. The aircraft was painted in Finnish colors, but was used quite sparingly, due to lack of spares and the bad condition of its engine. Most of the time it was standing at the air force base in Veitsiluoto.

Survivors

One Sk 10, the only remaining Tigerschwalbe, is preserved at the Flygvapenmuseum.

Operators

Austria

Austrian Air Force

Finland

Finnish Air Force

Sweden

Swedish Air Force

Specifications (RK-26)

Data from Thulinista Hornettiin

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Height: 2.66 m (8 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 20.20 m² (217.3 ft²)
Empty weight: 782 kg (lb)
Loaded weight: 1136 kg (lb)
Useful load: kg (kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,100 kg (2,420 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx 7-cylinder radial engine, 149-160 kW (200-215 hp)PS

Performance

Maximum speed: 190 km/h, 119 mph (102 knots, 117 mph)
Cruise speed: 160 km/h
Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)

Armament

none

Avionics
none

Sources

Heinonen, Timo: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy, 1992, ISBN 951-95688-2-4

Aerobatics

Aircraft	List of aerobatic aircraft

Competitions	European Gliding Championships FAI European Aerobatic Championships FAI World Aerobatic Championships FAI World Grand Prix Red Bull Air Race World Championship World Gliding Championships

Maneuvers	Loop (Inside & Outside) Aileron roll Barrel roll Cuban Eight Falling Leaf Hesitation roll Immelmann turn Kulbit Lomcevak Pugachev's Cobra Slip Spin Split S Stall Turn/Hammerhead Tailslide The Scissors Whifferdill turn Zurabatic Cartwheel

Organizations	British Aerobatic Association Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (Aresti Catalog) International Aerobatic Club International Miniature Aerobatic Club

Pilots	Cecilia R. Aragon Hannes Arch Princess Basmah Bani Ahmad Lincoln J. Beachey Péter Besenyei Ladislav Bezák Marta Bohn-Meyer Paul Bonhomme Pip Borrman Kirby Chambliss Julie Clark Marion Cole Vicki Cruse Mario de Bernardi Glen Dell Matthias Dolderer Wilhelm Düerkop Walter Extra Markus Feyerabend Gerhard Fieseler Jozef Gabris Michael Goulian Matt Hall Wayne Handley Ray Hanna Charlie Hillard Bob Hoover Bevo Howard Petr Jirmus Steve Jones Jurgis Kairys Georgij Kaminski Svetlana Kapanina Sándor Katona Charlie Kulp Anatoly Kvochur Nigel Lamb Jim LeRoy Leo Loudenslager Nancy Lynn Alejandro Maclean Pete McLeod Jerzy Makula Stanisław Makula Mikhail Mamistov Mike Mangold Scott Manning Catherine Maunoury Neil Williams Pyotr Nesterov Alexandr Panfierov Ivy May Pearce Adolphe Pégoud František Peřina Tom Poberezny Maciej Pospieszyński Sergey Rakhmanin Amelia Reid Olaf Schmidt Art Scholl Klaus Schrodt Betty Skelton Erde Skip Stewart Martin Šonka Gene Soucy Chris Sperou Victor Tchmal Reinhold Tiling Ferenc Tóth Sean D. Tucker Nick Turvey Ernst Udet Gabor Varga Frank Versteegh Patty Wagstaff Kermit Weeks Walter Wolfrum Janusz Żurakowski

Other	3D Radio control Virtual Festival of Aerobatic Teams

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