Theodor Kober
Friedrichshafen FF.59
The Friedrichshafen FF.59 was a German reconnaissance floatplane constructed in the aftermath of World War I by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen, a company founded by aviation pioneer Theodor Kober. First flown in 1919, the FF.59 was designed to serve the German Navy’s coastal patrol and artillery‑spotting duties during the turbulent years of the Versailles restrictions. Its biplane layout featured equal‑span wooden wings, braced with a single set of interplane struts, and a central fuselage mounted on twin floats that gave the aircraft excellent stability on water. Powered by a 150 hp Maybach Mb.IVa inline engine, the plane could reach a top speed of roughly 150 km/h and carry a pilot plus an observer equipped with a forward‑firing LMG 08/15 and a flexible rear gun. Its relatively low wing loading and generous area allowed short sea take‑offs, crucial for Germany’s limited post‑war infrastructure. Though only a handful were built before the program was curtailed by Allied disarmament terms, the FF.59 demonstrated the practicality of seaplane operations and influenced later German maritime designs such as the Heinkel He 55. Its legacy lies in showcasing Kober’s continued innovation in adapting military aircraft to peacetime naval reconnaissance.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 71.5 square metre
- Length
- 11.5 metre
- Height
- 4.25 metre
- Mass
- 2249 kilogram
Performance
- Maximum Speed
- 142 kilometre per hour
- Service Ceiling
- 3500 metre
- Range
- 680 kilometre
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1918
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Theodor Kober
- Developer
- Theodor Kober
- Engine
- Bz.IV
- Wikidata ID
- Q117319587