Flight, October 1933

THE "FIESLER 5" MONOPLANE

   HERR GERHARD FIESLER, who is well known in England for his aerobatics at low altitudes, and who last year acquired control of the firm of Kegel-Flugzeugbau of Kassel, has recently produced a new light aeroplane. Named the "Fieseler 5," it is a two-seater cantilever low-wing monoplane fitted with a 60-h.p. Hirth HM 60 engine. A 78-h.p. Hirth HM 6R engine can also be fitted if desired, without any structural alterations.
   The wings are trapezoidal in shape and taper outwards, the leading edge sloping backwards while the trailing edge is straight. The folding wings, of wooden construction, have two double T-section spars, and are covered up to the rear spar with plywood to obtain sufficient torsional strength. Two slotted flaps are fitted to the trailing edge of each plane, the outer of which serves as an aileron. These flaps can be locked in any position from the cockpit.
   The undercarriage comprises two vertical legs placed well forward of the centre of gravity, and fitted with rubber and oleo shock absorbers. The low-pressure balloon wheels run in forks, and brakes are fitted.
   The engine housing is partitioned off from the rest of the fuselage by a fireproof bulkhead behind which are the aluminium fuel and oil tanks, which hold sufficient fuel for 370 miles.
   The joystick is mounted on ball bearings and the control surfaces operated by cables and push rods. The elevators consist of a surface of wood with plywood covering and are adjustable from the cockpit. The tail is braced to the lower edge of the fuselage and connected to the steel tube tail fin by cables. All control surfaces are fitted with ball bearings.
   It is claimed that this little machine is very manoeuvrable, comes out of a spin very easily, and can be changed from a right-hand spin to a left-hand spin by use of the rudder bar alone.
   We are indebted to Shell Aviation News for the details and illustrations of this machine.
   The characteristics of the ''Fiesler 5'' are :- Span, 32-8 ft.; overall length, 21-6 ft.; wing area. 146 sq. ft.; weight empty, 750 lb.; disposable load, 595 lb.; weight loaded, 1,345 lb.; wing loading, 9-2 lb. a sq. ft.
   Performance (with Hirth H.M. 60 Engine): Fuel consumption, 3-84 gals, per hour; oil consumption, 19 gals, per hour; power loading, 19-2 lb. per h.p.; max. speed, 118 m.p.h.; landing speed, 40 m.p.h.; climb to 3,280 ft., 5-5 min.; service ceiling, 15,420 ft.; range, 373 miles.
   With Hirth H.M. 60R Engine: Maximum speed, 130 m.p.h.; landing speed, 40 m.p.h.; climb to 3,280 ft., 4-8 min.; service ceiling, 16,730 ft.; range, 373 miles.