The Swiss-originated Hafeli MA-7 stood as something of a failed culmination of a line that began with the earlier Hafeli DH-2 of 1916. The single-seat, single-engine biplane was developed as a fighter with the Swiss Air Force in mind, utilizing all of the lessons learned from the Air War of 1914-1918. August Hafeli, having built a body of work with time spent at A.G.O. of the German Empire before transitioning to K+W of Switzerland, once-again headed development of an aircraft which would bear his name.
NOTE: The MA-7 is also known as the "K+W MA-7" (K+W being the builder) and is formally designated the "Militar-Apparat MA-7".
The MA-7 was developed to satisfy a standing Federal Military Department requirement of the Swiss Air Force for an all-modern day fighter. The Hafeli approach relied on the proven over-under biplane wing structure while construction involved fabric-over-wood covering being used alongside metal used at critical sections of the aircraft. Instead of parallel struts at the mainplanes as seen in previous Hafeli entries, N-type supports were used to brace the upper and lower wing members. The initial prototype form carried the locally-built (under license) Hispano-Suiza 8Fb HS-42 V-8 water-cooled piston engine developing 300 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller at the nose. K+W was charged with the construction of the aircraft.
Armament would center on 2 x 7.45mm machine guns set at the nose and synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.
A first-flight was recorded during 1925 and trials with the Swiss Air Force followed from February 1926 until April 1926, at which point the design was found to be lacking in performance and stability, leading the specimen to be returned to the manufacturer for necessary changes. K+W responded by succeeding the original HS-42 engine with the still-experimental - though more powerful - LFW-12 "X-1" engine of 400 horsepower in an attempt to enhance performance (the engine was the product of the Swiss locomotive and Machine Works). However, the powerplant proved too heavy and dimensionally large for the existing airframe to accept without a total reworking of the aircraft. As such, it was decided to abandon additional work on the MA-7 - leaving the Swiss Air Force to take on the French-made, all-metal Dewoitine D.1 fighter instead.
Just the single prototype was constructed for the MA-7 project.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
SYNCHRONIZED / INTERRUPTOR GEAR
Automatic weapons are synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades via special mechanical gear arrangement.
MULTI-WINGED
Addition of more mainplanes to enhance inherent agility, providing a tactical edge in tight engagements.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
BAILOUT PROCESS
Manual process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to exit in the event of an airborne emergency.
Length
21.7 ft (6.60 m)
Width/Span
32.5 ft (9.90 m)
Height
9.2 ft (2.79 m)
Empty Wgt
1,863 lb (845 kg)
MTOW
2,679 lb (1,215 kg)
Wgt Diff
+816 lb (+370 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Hafeli MA-7 production variant)
biplane / over-under / straight
Biplane
Design utilizes a dual-plane wing arrangement in which one mainplane member is seated above the other; biplanes enhance agility at the expense of added drag.
Over-Under
Dual mainplane configuration seating the members in an over-under fashion and poisitoned at different points along the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Hafeli MA-7 production variant)
Installed:
1 x Hispano-Suiza 8Fb HS-42 V-8 water-cooled piston engine developing 300 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Hafeli MA-7 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
2 x 7.45mm machine guns mounted over the nose and synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Switzerland (trialed)
