A 16

The Focke‑Wulf A 16 was one of the first all‑metal monoplanes produced by the newly formed Focke‑Wulf Flugzeugbau in 1925. Conceived as a light transport and training aircraft, the A 16 marked a transition from the company's earlier wood‑frame biplanes to modern stressed‑skin construction. It featured a high‑mounted, cantilever wing of elliptical planform, a fully enclosed cabin that could accommodate two pilots and up to three passengers, and a single 150 hp Siemens‑Shulz radial engine driving a two‑bladed wooden propeller. The aircraft’s landing gear was still fixed, but the aerodynamic clean‑up achieved with smooth metal skin reduced drag and gave a cruising speed of about 170 km/h, which was competitive for its class. Only a small batch of twelve A 16s were built, mainly for German regional airlines and flight schools, but the type demonstrated the viability of metal monoplanes for civil use. Its structural concepts directly influenced later Focke‑Wulf designs such as the Fw 44 and laid groundwork for the high‑performance fighters of the 1930s, securing the A 16 a modest yet pivotal place in aviation history. Preserved examples can be seen today at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, offering enthusiasts a tangible link to the pioneering era of German aeronautical engineering.