Klemm Kl 105

The Klemm Kl 105 was a light, low‑wing monoplane developed in Germany by Hanns Klemm in the mid‑1930s. Intended as a four‑seat tourer and trainer, the aircraft embodied Klemm’s philosophy of simple, economical construction using wooden frames and plywood skinning. Power was supplied by a 105 hp Hirth HM 500 inline engine, driving a two‑bladed propeller and delivering a maximum speed of roughly 200 km/h with a modest fuel consumption that made it attractive to private pilots and flying clubs. The Kl 105 featured a fully enclosed cabin with side‑by‑side seating, a fixed conventional undercarriage with aerodynamic fairings, and responsive handling derived from the low‑wing layout and a generous aileron area. Although a prototype flew in early 1936 and demonstrated good performance, series production never materialised because the outbreak of World War II shifted Klemm’s resources to military trainers such as the Kl 35 and to licensed manufacture of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Nevertheless, the Kl 105 represents an important transitional design that bridged the gap between the pre‑war sport aircraft of the 1920s and the post‑war generation of modern lightplanes, influencing later German designs and the revival of civilian aviation after the conflict.

Hanns Klemm

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Design & Classification