Friedrichshafen FF.29

what is it?

The Friedrichshafen FF.29 was a maritime reconnaissance floatplane built for the Imperial German Navy's (Kaiserliche Marine) Naval Air Service (Marine-Fliegerabteilung) that was produced by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen during World War I. The aircraft entered service in November 1914, mostly conducting maritime patrols over the North Sea and the English Channel, and played a small role in the Raid on Cuxhaven the following month. A FF.29 became the first aircraft to be transported by a submarine when it was used in experiments in January 1915. In May an emergency landing by a FF.29 was the cause of the action off Noordhinder Bank when German forces were searching for the floatplane when they encountered a superior British force.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 engine · biplane · 16.3 m wingspan

base stats

• size 1,400 kgmax take-off weight
• built 44made 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 112 years ago, in 1914.
• 🚗Wingspan of 16.3 m: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.

spec sheet

first flight

1914-11

introduced

1914

number built

44

role

maritime reconnaissance floatplane

makers

Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen

engines

1× water-cooled Mercedes D.II straight-six engine

length

10.4 m

wingspan

16.3 m

max take-off weight

1,400 kg

top speed

—

range

—

wings

biplane

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