Militär-Apparat MA-7

Militär-Apparat MA-7
Role Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer K & W
Designer August Häfeli
First flight 1925
Introduction February 1926
Retired April 1926
Primary user Swiss Air Force
Number built 1

The Militär-Apparat MA-7 was a prototype fighter designed by August Häfeli in Switzerland.

Design and development

Designed in response to a Swiss Air Force requirement for an indigenous fighter design, the MA-7 was a biplane of fabric-covered wood construction with N-shaped wing struts like the Fokker D.VI of 1918. The aircraft was built in 1925 and handed over for trials in February 1926.[1]

The prototype was returned to the manufacturer in 1926 due to unsatisfactory flight characteristics and performance. The manufacturer responded with the installation of a 400 hp (300 kW) LFW-12 X-1 engine. This engine, however, was too large and heavy for the frame and entire MA-7 project was subsequently discontinued.

Records

In April 1925, test pilot Max Cartier set a Swiss record of 9,800 metres (32,200 feet) above sea level with the MA-7.

Operators

  Switzerland

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 6.61 m (21 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.91 m (32 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.79 m (9 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 23.75 m2 (255.6 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 843 kg (1,858 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,213 kg (2,674 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Fb HS-42 V8, liquid-cooled aircraft engine, 220 kW (300 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph; 127 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 255 km/h (158 mph; 138 kn) (econ cruise)
  • Range: 300 km (186 mi; 162 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 7,600 m (24,900 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 9.2 m/s (1,810 ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ Urech, Jakob; Hunziker, Emil (1974). Die Flugzeuge der Schweizerischen Fliegertruppe seit 1914. Hrsg. von der Abt. der Militärflugplätze Dübendorf, Verlag Th. Gut & Co, 1. Aufl. Stäfa. p. 134.
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