LFG V.39

Flight, May 1925

THE ROUND-GERMANY FLIGHT

THE MACHINES

Luftfahrzeug-Gesellschaft

The Luftfahrzeug-Gesellschaft, whose works are at Stralsund, is, like the Albatros Works, one of the oldest firms in Germany, but for some years has not been, perhaps, quite so prominent as during the years preceding the War. Lately, however, the firm seems to have revived somewhat. Quite a number of L.F.G. machines are entered for the Round-Germany flight, the types being the V.39, V.40, V.42, V.44, and the V.52, but the types V.42 and V.52 were not completed in time for photographs to reach us before going to press with this week's issue of FLIGHT.
Taking the machines in the order of their series numbers: the V.39 is a school biplane designed for either a 100 h.p. or 120 h.p. Mercedes engine. The flat-sided fuselage is built entirely of wood with three-ply covering. The wings are of the usual two-bay biplane form, and are of usual construction with box-spars and three-ply ribs. The covering is fabric. The V.39 has not been designed so much with the object of great carrying power or high speed in view, as for reliability and robust construction, such as is important in machines to be used for school work. The machine is stated to be extremely easy to fly and to have a very low landing speed. Its main dimensions are: Length o.a.,7-85 m. (25 ft. 10 ins.); span, 12 m. (39 ft. 4 ins.); wing area, 40 sq. m. (430 sq. ft.). The weight empty is 8,045 kg. (1,770 lbs.); useful load, 285 kg. (630 lbs.); total loaded weight, 1,130 kg. (2,400 lbs.). The top speed is 125 km./h. (78 m.p.h.), and the landing speed 55 km./h. (34 m.p.h.). The ceiling is 3,800 m. (12,500 ft); and the climb to a 1,000 m. occupies eight minutes.
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