Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

SES is absolutely right about this. They are indeed inflatable flotaion gear, in the event that the Fi 156 had to make an emergency-landing at sea! All 3 Fi 156 belonging to 1/KüFlGr 706 in Aalborg 1940-41 had these attachments!!!! These Fi 156 were used to survey the minefields in Skagerrak.

Junker

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

That is a C-2 or C-3 model. Neither had the provisions for an under-belly aux tank. That was introduced on the C-5.

Fuel tanks? Perhaps. With just the 22 gal center tank on the C-5, the range of the Fi 156 could be extended more than double.

Now other possibilities include attachment points for other items, or flotation devices.

Considering the picture is in snow, not much open water to ditch in.

The other issue is that extra "piece" between the legd. The question for me is whether it is a cross piece attaching the two legs or is it actaully running along the bottom of the fuselage between the leg, parallel to the center line.

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

All 3 were Fi 156C-2(u)! Skz. CQ+QL, CQ+QY and CQ+QZ! They were all equipped with flotation device attached to the udercarrige. It was to prevent them from sinking to fast in case of emergency over water! Snow on the picture has nothing to do with the fact that they operated over Skagerrak, wich has never frozen!!!!!They were even able to carry depth-charges.

Junker

Junker

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

Not having been to the area, not familiar with winter conditions. The it would appear that "extra bar' might be a depth charge carrier. One mounted between the legs

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

Thanks ju55dk ,all clear now .

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

Flotation devices? A bit scary in that as soon as the wheels hit the water the a/c would have flipped on its back. That's why you never ditched an aircraft with the gear down.

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

Right for other planes ,but the Storch had a very little landing speed :I think it could work .

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

Hi,
I agree. If the aircraft is almost stalled out - and it is equipped with floatation gear - it may not flip.
bregds
SES
(1500 hours on MFI 15 - and 3000 hours on fighters)

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

Oh I agree it might work. But, the Fi 156 had a heavy-duty landing gear, with that kind of gear, the aircraft will break apart before the gear shears.

But, if that's what it is -- a flotation gear -- good luck to the crew, because you would have almost literally drop into the water to keep the aircraft together.

Re: Fi 156 with unusual plates on the undercarriage
 

Given: 1. the right conditions (wind, wave state, visibility, (not being chased or shot at!)), 2. pilot attentiveness/skill, and 3. some good old luck, the Storch, with its very, very low stall speed, was more than capable of delivering an intact, upright touchdown. Basically, the plane could be "gently placed" on the water's surface. The flotation gear then bought time to make decisions and take appropriate action (or simply wait for aid (hopefully more dry than wet)).

I have to think that if such special gear was installed on the planes, those pilots (and the associated engineers/technicians) discussed the do's and don't's of wet landings and, to that end, made the most of this airplane's rather unique low-speed flying qualities. Of bigger concern—would the floats have deployed properly? Such things have a way of misbehaving. I wonder to what extent they were first tested.