RAAB-KATZENSTEIN RK-26

'Raab-Katzenstein RK-26 Tigerschwalbe' was a German twin-seat biplane trainer aircraft designed by Gerhard Fieseler by the end of the 1920s.

Contents

Design and development

Operational history

Survivors

Operators

Specifications (RK-26)

Sources

Related content

Design and development

In December, 1930, Fieseler was invited by the Swedish Air Force to present his aircraft for the Swedish aircraft manufacturing company ASJA. The SAF was in bad need for a new trainer and the RK-26 was an interesting aircraft. Fieseler had recently won a world aerobatics championship with a RK-26. ASJA then decided to buy one aircraft. It was tested with different engine configurations by the Swedish Air Force who later ordered 25 aircraft from ASJA.

Operational history

The trainer was given the designation 'Sk 10' in Swedish Air Force use. It was used between 1932 and 1945, but was quite controversial during its active life. This was partly due to changes in the design, which made the aircraft 200 kg heavier than the original, and this changed its flight characteristics drastically. The aircraft was involved in many accidents. Of the 25 delivered aircraft, 18 were written off due to crashes.
One aircraft, the SE-ADK was purchased in 1934 by a civilian, L. Hemmeringer. When the Winter War began, Hemmeninger donated the aircraft to Finland. The aircraft ended up being used by the Swedish Voluntary Air Force from 9 February, 1940. The aircraft was painted in Finnish colors, but was used quite sparingly, due to lack of spares and the bad condition of its engine. Most of the time it was standing at the air force base in Veitsiluoto.

Survivors

One Sk 10, the only remaining Tigerschwalbe in the world, is preserved at Flygvapenmuseum in Sweden.

Operators

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Specifications (RK-26)

Sources

★ Heinonen, Timo: ''Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3'', Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy, 1992, ISBN 951-95688-2-4

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