BFW M.23
| M.23 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | two-seat sporting aircraft |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) |
| Designer | Willy Messerschmitt |
| First flight | early 1928 |
| Number built | ≥ 100 |
| Developed from | M.19 |
The BFW M.23, sometimes known as the Messerschmitt M 23 was a 1920s two-seat sporting aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt, and produced by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). Examples won several prestigious races in 1929 and 1930.
The BFW M.23, the M standing for its designer Willy Messerschmitt, was developed in response to a specification issued in 1929 by the German Aero Club for the Ostpreussenflug (East Prussian Circuit) competition. The result was an improved version of the M.19, with seating for two, and wings that could be folded for transport or storage.
The M.23 was a small conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane. It had a fixed undercarriage, the main-wheels mounted on a cranked axle plus a tailskid. The fin and rudder assembly was broader and shorter than that of the M.19, though the shape varied with sub-type. A wide variety of engines were fitted, powers ranging from the 28 kW (38 hp) ABC Scorpion two-cylinder motor to the 112 kW (150 hp) of the seven-cylinder Siemens Sh 14a radial.
The first of three production variants, the M.23a used low-powered engines and had a very angular vertical tail. The M.23b had curved upper fuselage decking and a more rounded tail and was produced with a large range of engines, both inline and radial. The length depended slightly on the engine fitted. The final version, the M.23c had an enclosed cockpit, the most powerful engines and was slightly larger (200 mm/8 in in span, around 500 mm/20 in in length) than the earlier varieties. Its tail was again different, more rounded at the top and missing the elevator cut-away of the earlier models.
At least one M.23b appeared on floats.
M.23bs won both the 1929 Ostpreussenflug (Genet-powered) and the Circuit of Europe (Siemens Sh 13-powered) races. The M.23c was developed for, and won, the Circuit of Europe the following year with seven of them entered.
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