Friedrichshafen FF.34

Development and design

The FF.34 was similar to the earlier FF.31 as it was a pusher configuration twin-boom floatplane. It had a central nacelle with two open cockpits. The engine (a Maybach Mb.IV) with a pusher propeller was mounted at the back of the nacelle. The twin tail booms were fitted to a rear tailplane/elevator assembly. The aircraft was later modified with a conventional fuselage and tail unit and re-designated the FF.44

Variants

FF.34

Prototype twin-boom pusher floatplane.

FF.44

FF.34 converted with a conventional fuselage and tail unit.

Operators

 German Empire

Imperial German Navy

Specifications (FF.44)

General characteristics

Crew: Two, pilot and observer

Length: 10.85 m (35 ft 7 in)

Wingspan: 18.40 m (60 ft 4 in)

Height: 4.25 m (13 ft 11 in)

Wing area: 68.5 m² (737 ft²)

Empty weight: 1,552 kg (3,422 lb)

Gross weight: 2,305 kg (5,082 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Maybach Mb.IV, 180 kW (240 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)

Range: 600 km (374 miles)

Rate of climb: 1.2 m/s (236 ft/min)

Armament

1 × 7.92 mm Parabellum MG14 machine gun for observer