An Obscure Type

[GregP]

Another in the continuing series of obscure types is the Hungarian Manfred Weiss WM-23 of 1941.

http://www.airwar.ru/image/i/fww2/wm23-i.jpg

It was a monoplane fighter. The WM 23 used the inverted-gull wing of Heinkels original He 112 design, but with a wooden construction. The engine was a license-built French Gnome-Rhone radial. The program was abandoned when it was decided to build the Bf 109 in Hungary, and only one was completed. An all-metal version with a DB605 engine was on the drawing board.

Span: 9.60m; Length: 9.10m; Height: 3.10m; Wing Area: 23.50 sq.m; Engine: Manfred Weiss WN K-14/B (Gnome-Rhone of 761kW); 2100kg empty; 2600kg loaded; 530kph max speed; 472kph cruise; 2 x 7.62mm MG + 2 x 20mm cannons.

Could have been a good a contender ... maybe.

[Verner]

Beautiful Plane. Does anyone have more info and pics for it? Cheers

[GregP]

When I do an internet search on the aircraft, this is about all I get. I, too, would like other photos that show the wing plan or mabe an inflight shot. :)

[Mark J]

A very slight resemblance to the first F4U to fly. I like that concept.

cheers

[Mark J]

Found this in my book...

Weiss (Manfred)WM-23 Ezustnyil which means Silver Arrow.
The Weiss company was to build the Heinkel 112 but this was cancelled so their designer, Bela Samu, started work on their own fighter, using a licence built Gnome Rhone 14kfrs. The wing was from the He 112, built from wood. The fusalage was steel tube with plywood skin. Two 7.62 Gebaur machine guns in the wings and two 20mm Mg 151 canon in the fusalage. The prototype flew in September 1941 and demonstrated good flying characteristics but suffered intermittent aileron oscilation. In 1942, this caused the starboard aileron to detach and the pilot bailed out. There were plans to build a metal version with the DB 605 engine but this was discontinued when the company decided to build the Bf 109G.
speed 329mph at 16000ft
time to 19600ft 6 minutes
endurance 1.75 hours
loaded weight 7253lbs
span 34ft 9ins
lengh 35ft 5ins
height 11ft 7ins
wing area 253 sq ft
I have a profile drawing I could scan and email if anybody is interested.
Or go here
http://avia.russian.ee/air/hungary/weiss_wm-23.html

cheers

[Redwings_10]

Beautiful plane, I looked at the three view plan, eliptical wings ala Spitfire, vague resemblence to the Corsair, good looking aircraft. Too bad it was never pursued.

[Lightning]

Hi Redwings_10,

Quoting you:
quote:Too bad it was never pursued.

Had it gotten into the war, I'm sure it would have been. :D

Regards,
Lightning

[Redwings_10]

Hi Lightning

quote:Had it gotten into the war, I'm sure it would have been.

No doubt you're thinking of a certain fork-tailed devil taking part in some of those pursuites.:D

[palanganavoladora]

Here is another picture of WM 23:

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/356/weissmanfredwm233hw.jpg

[palanganavoladora]

Here is other plan of this plane

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3883/wm23plans7by.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wm23plans7by.jpg)

[GregP]

Thanks for the new pics! :D

[gabesz]

Hi!

Watch this sites: http://kme.uw.hu/wm23.html
http://taszarhse.hu/szakosztalyok/modellezo/hse_anyagok/HSE-repulogepek/Kontsagh_Sandor-Ezustnyil/a-kesz-gep/index.html

[Trexx]

That's a cherry.

[GregP]

Thank you palanganavoladora nd gabesz!

That's more than I have ever been able to uncover about this aircraft type.

There are many lesser-known types we would all like to know more about but, for some of them, its almost as if the country of origin actively tries to remove data about them. Some may be, in fact, only prototypes, but we are still interested!

The WM-23, while probably not a type that was ever going to reach mass production, was still an interesting aircraft. I bet that if plans were available today, it would make a very nice kit plane with sparking performance, assuming we could find some engines.

I bet our frined Montanamotor would welcome some detailed planes of this wooden wonder. He wanted to build an AMbrosini SAI 43 Dardo, but could not locate plans!

[Trexx]

quote:Originally posted by GregP

Thank you palanganavoladora nd gabesz! [:I] !

...The WM-23, while probably not a type that was ever going to reach mass production, was still an interesting aircraft. I bet that if plans were available today, it would make a very nice kit plane with sparking performance, assuming we could find some engines...

Notable point. The way "they're" building Ki-43s these days smacks some serious possibility into such a venture.

I'm invisioning a slick brochure featuring a variety of 'seldom and few builts' of vintage beauties such as the WM-23. Of course FAA approved kit-planes one and all!

[gabesz]

Hi GregP!

I am happy to se, that people in other counries are interested in the WM-23
I can give jou some sections and 3 view plans.
http://kme.uw.hu/eng/wm23eng.htm (infos)
http://www.cser-fa.hu/wm23_modell.rar
http://www.cser-fa.hu/Weiss-Manfred%20WM23.rar

The plane was prepared for mass production, we started to build the production line. And we are searching it.

I am in contact with a German team in Drezda, that will make a copy or a replica of this plane. But they are still searching the blueprints and production line too.

See you soon