Fieseler
Fieseler Fi 168
The Fieseler Fi 168 was a German experimental aircraft developed by the Fieseler company in the late 1930s as part of a covert program to explore high‑speed, low‑altitude reconnaissance and ground‑attack concepts. First rolled out in 1938, the prototype incorporated a sleek, all‑metal monocoque fuselage and a low‑set, cantilever wing with a sharp leading edge, reflecting the influence of contemporary fighter designs. Powered by a 1,050 hp Daimler‑Benz DB 605 liquid‑cooled V‑12 engine, the Fi 168 reached speeds of 560 km/h at 2 000 m and featured a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, enclosed cockpit with a bubble canopy, and provisions for up to two forward‑firing 7.92 mm MG 17 cannons plus a rear defensive machine gun.
Although the Fi 168 never entered mass production, its testing yielded valuable data on aerodynamic stability, fuel‑injection systems, and the integration of armor plating without sacrificing speed. The insights informed later Fieseler projects such as the Fi 156 Storch’s more robust variants and contributed to the Luftwaffe’s shift toward versatile, fast‑response aircraft. Consequently, the Fi 168 occupies a niche yet significant place in aviation history as a bridge between early war‑era trainers and the high‑performance combat types that dominated the early 1940s.
Although the Fi 168 never entered mass production, its testing yielded valuable data on aerodynamic stability, fuel‑injection systems, and the integration of armor plating without sacrificing speed. The insights informed later Fieseler projects such as the Fi 156 Storch’s more robust variants and contributed to the Luftwaffe’s shift toward versatile, fast‑response aircraft. Consequently, the Fi 168 occupies a niche yet significant place in aviation history as a bridge between early war‑era trainers and the high‑performance combat types that dominated the early 1940s.
