A 17 Möwe

The A 17 Möwe was a light sport and trainer aircraft produced in the 1930s by the German designer Henrich Focke, best known later for his work on rotary‑wing. Development began in 1930 as a response to the growing demand for economical, low‑power aircraft that could be used by flying clubs and private pilots. Built with a welded steel‑tube fuselage, fabric‑covered wings of wooden spar construction, and a 75 hp Hirth HM 60 engine, the Möwe offered a maximum speed of 145 km/h and a range of roughly 500 km. Its side‑by‑side seating, simple fixed‑gear undercarriage, and forgiving handling made it ideal for pilot instruction and short‑range touring. Only about 120 examples were completed before production ceased in 1934, when Focke’s interests shifted toward the emerging helicopter field. Although the A 17 never achieved large commercial success, it played a crucial role in popularising civilian aviation in Germany during the inter‑war period, providing a reliable platform for the nascent flying‑club movement and influencing later low‑cost designs. The aircraft’s straightforward construction and operating costs also attracted attention from overseas clubs, leading to limited exports to Scandinavia, where pilots valued its steadiness. Today, a restored A 17 Möwe resides in Deutsches Museum, a reminder of Focke’s early light‑aircraft work.

Henrich Focke

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Design & Classification