Friedrichshafen FF 29?

Ransom E. Olds · 13 February 2006, 10:22 AM

I've had a photographic print of a German seaplane for years and years & only recently gotten interested in an identification of the type and, possibly, the particular plane. I think it's a Friedrichshafen FF 29, circa 1915. The photo was taken from the right side & just forward of the tip of the main float. A fluttering pennant on the tip of the lower right wing partially obscures the serial, which appears to be 257. Forward of the serial is lettering, also obscured. Anyone know this machine? Ransom

mossie · 16 February 2006, 12:49 PM

If the serial is 257 then it is a Gotha WD.3, however this is a twin boom pusher.

Ransom E. Olds · 16 February 2006, 04:15 PM

Mossie: Thanks for the information, but this is a conventional tractor biplane, not a pusher. The only other reading of the serial that seems possible is 253. Will that match a Friedrichshafen? Best, and thanks again. Ransom

Breguet · 16 February 2006, 05:46 PM

A scan of the picture might help.

Ransom E. Olds · 17 February 2006, 03:52 PM

Breguet: I'd be glad to scan, except I'm too low tech and the photo is a commercial one with the injunction REPRODUCTION FORBIDDEN on the back. The plane is one of the earlier subtypes of the FF 29, with three bay wings and one of those radiators that looks like a step ladder along the right side of the fuselage. The exhaust leads from the front of the engine downward to just below the nose and curls slightly to the rear. Crosses can be seen on the bottom of each right-side wing and are within the large white fields. Ransom

Breguet · 18 February 2006, 03:58 AM

Well here is a shot of the 29a, anything like it?

Ransom E. Olds · 18 February 2006, 10:33 AM

Breguet: The 33a is a generally close match to my photo. In spite of the lower serial on my photo the plane itself looks as tho it might be a slightly later series in that the cowling is raised forward of the front cockpit, the fin area appears somewhat increased, and the floats are blunter at the front. Ransom

mossie · 18 February 2006, 03:56 PM

If the serial is in hte range 244-259 then these were allocated to Gotha WD.3.

How clear is the serial, any preceeding numbers, 1234-1288 is allocated to FF33L.

A.W. Carson · 18 February 2006, 07:57 PM

The FF. 33... is that the seaplane tye that was used on the SMS Wolf--German merchant raider in second-half of the war--for reconnaissance?

Ransom E. Olds · 19 February 2006, 11:35 AM

I didn't post my query to confound anyone. Honest. This plane has a three digit number on the right side of the fuselage, partly obscured by a pennant attached to the lower right wingtip. The first digit, 2, is immediately forward of the elevator fairleads; the middle digit is slightly hard to make out but is surely a 5, and the last digit, the top half of which may be seen, is apparently a 3 or a 7. No indication it's a four digit number beginning 25X or ending in 25X. To the right of this number is a longish word mostly hidden by said pennant which, my crossword-puzzle-working tendencies tells me might be a German place name like Charlottenburg or something similar.