Raab-Katzenstein
Raab-Katzenstein KL.1 Schwalbe
The Raab‑Katzenstein KL.1 Schwalbe was a low‑wing, single‑engine sports and training biplane built in Germany in the late 1920s by the little‑known Raab‑Katzenstein works of Frankfurt‑Oder. Designed by Walter Rethel and first flown in 1929, the aircraft emerged from the post‑World‑War‑Treaty era when German designers were seeking ways to keep aeronautical expertise alive under the constraints of the Versailles restrictions. The KL.1 featured a wooden framework with fabric covering, a 75 hp Siemens‑Halske Sh 14 radial engine, and a distinctive staggered biplane wing arrangement that gave it excellent roll response and short‑take‑off capability. Its open cockpit accommodated a pilot and optional passenger, while the fixed, split‑axle landing gear provided reliable handling on grass fields.
Only a handful of examples were produced, but the Schwalbe quickly became popular with flying clubs and aerobatic pilots because of its nimble handling and modest operating costs. It helped train a generation of German aviators who would later serve in the Luftwaffe, and it demonstrated that small private manufacturers could still innovate despite political and economic pressures. The KL.1 remains a noteworthy example of interwar German light‑aircraft design. Today a few restored examples are displayed in aviation museums, illustrating the craftsmanship of the era.
Only a handful of examples were produced, but the Schwalbe quickly became popular with flying clubs and aerobatic pilots because of its nimble handling and modest operating costs. It helped train a generation of German aviators who would later serve in the Luftwaffe, and it demonstrated that small private manufacturers could still innovate despite political and economic pressures. The KL.1 remains a noteworthy example of interwar German light‑aircraft design. Today a few restored examples are displayed in aviation museums, illustrating the craftsmanship of the era.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1926
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Raab-Katzenstein
- Engine
- ADC Cirrus
- Wikidata ID
- Q2124775