Fieseler Fi 156 Storch

what is it?

The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch ([ʃtɔrç], "stork") is a liaison aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Fieseler. Its nickname of Storch was derived from the lengthy legs of its main landing gear, which gave the aircraft a similar appearance to that of the long-legged, big-winged bird. Developed during the mid 1930s in response to a request from the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (Reich Aviation Ministry or RLM), the Fi 156 was an affordable and easy to construct aircraft purpose designed for the liaison, army co-operation, and medical evacuation roles.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 14.3 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 175 km/htop speed
• range 386 kmwithout refuelling
• size 1,325 kgmax take-off weight
• built 2,900made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 90 years ago, in 1936.
• 🚗Wingspan of 14.3 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1936-05-24

introduced

1937

retired

1945

status

retired

number built

2,900

role

reconnaissance & communications

origin

Nazi Germany

makers

Fieseler, Morane-Saulnier

engines

1× Argus As 10

crew

2

length

9.9 m

wingspan

14.3 m

height

3.1 m

max take-off weight

1,325 kg

top speed

175 km/h

cruise speed

130 km/h

range

386 km

ceiling

4,599 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.