Fieseler Fi 256

The Fieseler Fi 256 was a late‑1930s German light transport prototype developed by the Fieseler company, best known for the Fi 156 Storch. Conceived in 1937 as a short‑range cargo and liaison aircraft, the Fi 256 was intended to bridge the gap between the Storch’s rugged STOL capabilities and the larger, faster transports being produced for the Luftwaffe. Its construction featured a mixed‑material airframe: a wooden semi‑monocoque fuselage with welded steel‑tube wings covered in fabric, giving a low empty weight of 1 200 kg. Powered by a single Argus As 410‑12 inverted V‑12 delivering 465 hp, the aircraft achieved a maximum speed of 260 km/h, a service ceiling of 6 500 m, and a distinctive high‑wing layout with large, slotted flaps that provided a 15 m take‑off run on grass fields. Only two prototypes were built before the program was cancelled in 1939 as the Luftwaffe shifted focus to the larger Ju 52. Although it never entered production, the Fi 256 demonstrated innovative use of lightweight structures and advanced flap geometry, influencing post‑war German regional aircraft design and highlighting Fieseler’s expertise in versatile utility platforms. Today, aviation historians regard the Fi 256 as a pivotal step in the evolution of compact, high‑performance transport aircraft.

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