Hansa-Brandenburg FD

The Hansa‑Brandenburg FD was a single‑engine, two‑seat floatplane developed in Germany during the final years of World War I. Designed by the Austro‑Hungarian firm Hansa‑Brandenburg, the FD first flew in early 1917 as a maritime reconnaissance and artillery‑spotting aircraft for the Imperial German Navy’s Naval Air Service. Its wooden fuselage was covered with doped fabric and mounted on a pair of interchangeable pontoons, allowing operation from coastal bases and seaplane tenders. Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIa six‑cylinder inline engine, the FD achieved a top speed of roughly 150 km/h (93 mph) and a service ceiling of 4 500 m, providing adequate range for patrols over the North Sea and Baltic. The aircraft’s open cockpits offered excellent visibility for its observer, who operated a flexible 7.92 mm machine gun and could deploy small bombs for anti‑ship missions. Although produced in modest numbers—approximately 120 units—the FD proved reliable in harsh marine conditions and contributed to the evolution of dedicated naval aviation platforms. Its design influenced later interwar seaplanes, marking an early step toward the specialized maritime aircraft that would dominate the 1920s and 1930s.

Hansa-Brandenburg

Hansa-Brandenburg FD

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification