Albatros AL 102 & Focke-Wulf Fw-55

The Albatros Al 102 (L102) & Focke-Wulf Fw 55W, was a German trainer aircraft of the 1930s.

It was a parasol wing landplane, seating the student pilot and instructor in separate, open cockpits.

A biplane floatplane version was also built as the Al 102W, with strut-braced lower wings.

This was one of the last Albatros aircraft to be built before the merger with Focke Wulf Flugzeugbau.

Variants

L102L

The landplane version with tail wheel undercarriage and parasol monoplane wing.

L102W

Two examples built as biplane floatplanes, one of which was designated as the Focke-Wulf Fw 55W.

Al 102L

RLM designation for the L102L landplane

Al 102W

RLM designation for the L102W floatplane

Specifications

Crew

Two

Length

8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)

L102W

9.4 m (31 ft)

Wingspan

13.3 m (43 ft 8 in)

Height

3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)

Wing area

22.2 m2 (239 sq ft) monoplane

Al 102W

31.40 m2 (338 sq ft) (sesquiplane)

Aspect ratio

7.97

Empty weight

780 kg (1,720 lb)

L102W

965 kg (2,127 lb)

Gross weight

1,200 kg (2,646 lb)

L102W

1,350 kg (2,976 lb)

Fuel capacity

160 kg (353 lb) + Oil 20 kg (44 lb)

L102W

158 kg (348 lb) + Oil 10 kg (22 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Argus As 10C, inverted V-8, Air cooled piston engine,

177 kW (237 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed

210 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn) at sea level

L102W

185 km/h (115 mph; 100 kn) at sea level

Cruise speed

195 km/h (121 mph, 105 kn) at sea level

L102W

180 km/h (112 mph; 97 kn) at sea level

Range

680 km (420 mi, 370 nmi)

L102W

585 km (364 mi; 316 nmi)

Endurance

3.5 hours

L102W

3.25 hours

Service ceiling

5,000 m (16,000 ft)

L102W

4,500 m (14,764 ft)

Rate of climb

4.9 m/s (960 ft/min)

L102W

3.1 m/s (610.2 ft/min)

Wing loading

54.05 kg/m2 (11.07 lb/sq ft)

L102W

42.99 kg/m2 (8.8 lb/ft2).