View source for Engineering:Fieseler Fi 97

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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
 |name=Fieseler Fi 97
 |image=Fieseler Fi 97.jpg
 |caption=
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
 |type=Touring aircraft
 |manufacturer=Fieseler
 |designer=
 |first flight=1934
 |introduced=1934
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary user=Germany
 |more users=
 |produced=1934
 |number built=5
 |variants with their own articles=
}}
|}

The '''Fieseler Fi 97''' was a 1930s {{wipe|Germany}} four-seat cabin touring and competition [[Engineering:Monoplane|monoplane]] aircraft designed and built by the German manufacturer Fieseler.

==Design and development==
Following the success of their two-seat tourer/trainer the [[Engineering:Fieseler Fi 5|Fieseler F5]], Fieseler was encouraged by the German Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) to develop a four-seat version specially to take part in the European touring plane championship Challenge 1934.

The result of this request was the Fi 97, designed by Kurt Arnolt.  It was a mixed-construction low-wing [[Engineering:Cantilever|cantilever]] monoplane with a conventional [[Engineering:Empennage|tail unit]]. The fuselage had a fabric-covered steel tubing frame. The wing structure was wood and was covered with fabric and [[Chemistry:Plywood|plywood]]. The wings were able to be folded aft for storage or ground transport. The [[Engineering:Conventional landing gear|tailskid undercarriage]] was fixed. The pilot and three passengers had an enclosed cabin.

Five examples of the Fi 97 were built.  Three aircraft were fitted with the Hirth HM 8U, 250&nbsp;hp inverted V8 engine, and two used the Argus As 17A, 225&nbsp;hp inverted 6-cylinder inline engine.  Both engines are air-cooled.

The plane had [[Engineering:STOL|STOL]] capabilities and the most significant design aspect was the wing's high-lift devices to enable the aircraft to be flown at low speeds. The leading-edge had Handley Page type automatic slats over more than half of the span. The trailing edge had Fieseler-designed ''Ausrollflügel'', a Fowler-type trailing-edge flap. The trailing-edge flap increased the wing area by nearly 20%. These high-lift features allowed the aircraft to be controlled down to 58&nbsp;km/h (36&nbsp;mph). These features were later utilized in construction of the famous [[Engineering:Fieseler Fi 156|Fieseler Fi 156]] Storch.

==Operational history==
Five Fi 97s took part in the Challenge 1934 touring plane championship in August–September, and Hans Seidemann took third place in an Argus-powered Fi 97, bested by only two Polish RWD-9s. A significant achievement was that all the Fieselers completed the contest (places: 3, 9, 12, 13, 16), especially comparing to other German aircraft. Among pilots was also [[Biography:Wolf Hirth|Wolf Hirth]]. Among others, they scored 1st and 3rd results in a short landing trial (best result - 75 m, from over 8 m-high gate) and very good results in a short take-off (78.3 m over 8 m-high gate) and minimal speed trial (58.49&nbsp;km/h).

==Specifications==
[[File:Fieseler Fi 97 3-view L'Aerophile October 1934.jpg|thumb|Fieseler Fi 97 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile October 1934]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1812/3
|prime units? = met
|crew=1
|capacity=3 passengers
|length m=8.04
|length ft=26
|length in=4.5
|span m=10.70
|span ft=35
|span in=1.25
|height m=2.36
|height ft=7
|height in=9
|wing area sqm=15.30
|wing area sqft=164.69
|empty weight kg=560
|empty weight lb=1235
|gross weight kg=1050
|gross weight lb=2315
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Argus As 17A 6-cylinder inverted inline piston engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->168
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->225
|max speed kmh=245
|max speed mph=152
|range km=1200
|range miles=746
|ceiling m=7300
|ceiling ft=23,950
|climb rate ms=5.583
|climb rate ftmin=1,165
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|see also=
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
*[[Engineering:Aero A.200|Aero A.200]]
*[[Engineering:Caproni PS.1|Caproni PS.1]]
*[[Engineering:Klemm Kl 36|Klemm Kl 36]]
*[[Engineering:Messerschmitt Bf 108|Messerschmitt Bf 108]]
*[[Engineering:Percival Vega Gull|Percival Vega Gull]]
*[[Engineering:PZL.26|PZL.26]]
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London }}
* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1812/3
* [http://www.luftarchiv.de Luftarchiv]

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080216195231/http://www.elgrancapitan.org/portal/aviaci-n/fieseler-fi-97.html Photos and drawings]

{{RLM aircraft designations}}

[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|Fieseler Fi 97}}