Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Stork) Reconnaissance / Army Co-operation Multi-Purpose Aircraft (1937)
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a multi-faceted performer for the Third Reich in World War 2.
Design of the Fi 156 was almost utilitarian. Wings were of a monoplane design mounted high atop the fuselage with the smallish cockpit just underneath. The most identifiable feature of the Stork lay in the angled fixed landing gear, with its connecting struts making their way from fuselage to wings. The engine was mounted at extreme front and powered up to about 240 horsepower. The fuselage proved durable and capable of light-type sorties that in some cases saw single litters of wounded being brought aboard in the medevac role.
The basic yet competent construction allowed the Storch access to remote and sometimes unforgiving terrain. The aircraft was designed in such a way that the airframe proved to be a terrific short take-off and landing (STOL) performer. Such were its capabilities that the aircraft needed less than a football field's length take off and much less than that to land on. This was evident in the grand rescue of Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini from his Gran Sasso prison in 1943, playing a part alongside the German special forces units. In the end, the Storch appeared in a handful of variants through to the final days of the war. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Stork)
Reconnaissance / Army Co-operation Multi-Purpose Aircraft
Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
Manufacturer: Fieseler - Germany / Morane-Saulnier - France / Mraz - Czechoslovakia / Antonov - Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1937
Production: 2,949
Focus Model: Fieseler Fi 156C-2 Storch (Stork)
Crew: 2
Length: 32.48ft (9.9m)
Width: 46.75ft (14.25m)
Height: 10.01ft (3.05m)
Weight (Empty): 2,050lbs (930kg)
Weight (MTOW): 2,921lbs (1,325kg)
Powerplant: 1 x Argus As 10C-3 inverted V8, air-cooled, radial piston engine developing 240hp.
Maximum Speed: 106mph (170kmh; 92kts)
Maximum Range: 239miles (385km)
Service Ceiling: 15,092ft (4,600m; 2.9miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 945 feet per minute (288m/min)
Hardpoints: 2
Armament Suite:
OPTIONAL (Variant Dependent):
1 OR 2 x 7.92mm machine gun(s) in rear trainable gun position or side cabin windows.
Depth Charges
Conventional Drop Bombs
Variants:
Fi 156 V1 - Initial Prototype; metal adjustable propeller; single example produced.
Fi 156 V2 - Prototype Model; initial flyable example; fitted with wood propeller; single example produced.
Fi 156 V3 - Prototype Model; based on the V2 prototype; testbed for radio communications equipment; single example produced.
Fi 156 V4 - Prototype Model; based on the V3 prototype; winter ski undercarriage; optional auxiliary fuel tank.
Fi 156 V5 - Prototype Model; A-series production standard.
Fi 156 A-0 - Pre-production examples based on the V3 prototype; 10 examples produced; unarmed.
Fi 156 A-1 - Initial Production Examples; between 6 and 16 aircraft delivered; unarmed.
Fi 156 B - Proposed Improved Production Model; fitted with automatic retractable landing gear slats; improved aerodynamics and speed; never mass-produced.
Fi 156 C-0 - Multi-role pre-production models based on A-series production models.
Fi 156 C-1 - Staff Transport/Liaison Role Designation; seating for three.
Fi 156 C-2 - Reconnaissance/MedEvac Variant; reconnaissance role fitted with single camera; accommodation for 2 personnel; MedEvac role has provision for single stretcher; reconnaissance model fitted a single MG 15 machine gun in rear cockpit.
Fi 156 C-3 - "Definitive" Storch; multi-purpose/multi-role model; powered up Argus As 10P engine; universal cockpit for various required roles.
Fi 156 C-3/Trop - Tropicalized Variant of base C-3 model; filtered engine air intakes; appearing in 1941.
Fi 156 C-5 - Fitted with Argus As 10P engine; provision for photographic reconnaissance camera in under fuselage position; provision for jettisonable fuel tank; winter ski undercarriage optional.
Fi 156 C-5/Trop - Tropicalized Variant of base C-5 model; filtered engine air intakes; appearing in 1941.
Fi 156 D-0 - Pre-Production Air Ambulance Model based on the C-production models; enlarged cockpit compartment; enlarged cabin doors; fitted with Argus AsP series engine.
Fi 156 D-1 - Production Model of the D-0 pre-production form beginning in 1942.
Fi 156 E-0 - Liaison Variant; based on the C-1 production models; at least 10 examples fitted with tracked undercarriage; production beginning in 1941.
Fi 156 F (also Fi 156 P) - Counter-Insurgency Variant; based on C-3 production model; appearing in 1942; fitted with general purpose machine guns in side cabin windows; provision for conventional drop bombs and smoke-laying devices.
Fi 156 U - Anti-Submarine Variant; based on the C-3 production model; provision for depth charges; appearing in 1940.
Fi 156 K-1 - Swedish Export Variant based on the C-1 production model.
Fi 256 - Five Seat Civilian Passenger Transport; at least two examples were produced by French firm Morane-Saulnier.
MS-500 - French Liaison Variant; fitted with Argus engine of 250 horsepower.
MS-501 - French Built Variant; fitted with Renault 6Q engine of 233 horsepower.
MS-502 - French Liaison Variant; based on the MS-500 production model; fitted with Salmson 9ab radial piston engine of 230 horsepower.
MS-504 - French Built Variant; fitted with Jacobs R-755-A2 radial piston engine of 304 horsepower.
MS-505 - French Built Observation Variant based on the MS-500 production model; fitted with Jacobs R-755-A2 radial piston engine of 304 horsepower.
MS-506 - French Built Variant; fitted with Lycoming engine of 235 horsepower.
Mraz K-65 Cap - Czechoslovakian Built Variant; post-war.
Antonov OKA-38 - Illegal Soviet Copy of Fi 156; fitted with illegal copy of French Renault MV-6 engine; production halted before deliveries by invading German ground forces in 1941.
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