Flight, May 1925

THE ROUND-GERMANY FLIGHT

THE MACHINES

Udet-Flugzeugbau G.M.B.H.

   Although one of the younger German firms, the Udet works of Munich have shown quite surprising energy since the foundation of the firm a few years ago. In the Round-Germany flight a considerable number of machines are entered, most of which have been described in FLIGHT from time to time. At least one new type has been produced for the competition, and curiously enough this is a biplane, the U.12 - so far as we are aware, the first biplane to be produced by this firm.
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   The new Udet U.12, as already stated, is a biplane, and is shown in one of our photographs. The standard machine is mainly intended for preliminary school work, and is, therefore, fitted with dual control, so arranged that either set of controls can be disconnected according to whether the instructor occupies the front or the rear seat. In this connection it is of interest that when one set of controls is disconnected the other is automatically brought into gear, so that one set is always working.
   As the photograph will show, the biplane wings are of normal type with a single I-strut on each side and cable bracing. It may be mentioned that the machine is produced in several types, according to the purpose for which it is intended, commencing with the original type, which has large wing area and high lift section, and then the second type with low lift section, and finally for completing training and for use in "refresher courses," a set of smaller wings is supplied. The engine is a Siemens radial of 80 h.p. mounted on steel structure which is secured to the fuselage proper by four bolts, and can easily be dismantled. The petrol tanks are mounted in the top centre section so that direct gravity feed may be employed.