Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein FFA P-16

Boxart by Zane R Nobbs

Model and photograph by Zane R Nobbs

The company Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein, FFA, was originally part of Dornier Fluzeugwerke based in Altenrhein, Switzerland. The focus was on aircraft and train coaches, flug-und fahrzeugwerke meaning "aviation and vehicle works" in German. In 1948 the company went independent and concentrated on manufacturing aircraft for the Swiss Air Force, "Luftwaffe Forces Aeriennes Forze Aree." The first aircraft of FFA was the license built Swiss version of the French Morane-Saulnier D-3803 (1/72 Heller,Dujin, RS Models, AZ Model). As these were replaced by surplus U.S. North American P-51D Mustangs (1/72 from Matchbox, Airfix, Academy, HASEGAWA,TAMIYA, Revell, Italiai), FFA began to look for new endeavors.

Swiss Air Force Museum photo of F+W Emmen N-20.1 Arabalete

Beginning in 1950 FFA noted the progress of the Swiss jet powered aircraft F+W Emmen N-20.1 Arbalete (Crossbow) (1/72 Dujin) powered by a  Jato 12, 6.2 kN (1,400 lbf) thrust of 1948, the N-20.2 Arbalete (1/72 Dujin) with 4x Turboméca Piméné axial-flow turbojets and N-20.10 Aguillon (Pivot) (1/72 Dujin, S&M Models) with 4x Swiss Mamba SM-01 axial-flow turbojets of 1950.

Models and photograph by Zane R Nobbs

The company decided to design a more comprehensive Swiss aircraft to accomodate the terrain and geography unique to Switzerland. This would evenually become the FFA P-16 (1/72 IRMA, S&M Models) with an  Armstrong Siddeley ASSa.6 Sapphire axial-flow turbojet taking flight in 1955.

Swiss Air Force Museum photo of the F+W Emmen N-20.10 Aguillon

The project began in 1952 with an order by the Swiss government for a single-seat fighter that could also perform close-support duties powered by a single engine. The result was to specification with a low-wing, sturdy undercarriage with dual wheels on all three legs and a traditional tail empendage with the stablizer about half-way up the tail-fin.

 Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein-FFA Museum photo of the FFA P-16 by Alexander Flühmann

Unique features for the P-16 included air intakes along the fuselage sides, Kreuger flaps on the leading edges of the wings to aid in airlift by advancing downward during takeoffs and landings, Fowler flaps on the trailing wing edges to increase slowdown when landing and ailerons that acted as flaps in accordance with flaps. Altogether the combination of these devices allowed the P-16 to takeoff and land in distances of less than 1,000 ft. (330 m).

 Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein photo of FFA P-16 prototype

Prototype No. 1 took to the air on 25 April 1955, but crashed in August the following year. Prototype No. 2 was the first Swiss aicraft to break the sound barrier on 15 August 1956. This led to a contract for four pre-production aircraft and later 100 production jets. Unfortunately a second crash in 1958 caused the Swiss government to cancel the entire program and replace the P-16 with Hawker Hunters from the United Kingdom.

Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein photo of P-16 prototype

Undeterred, FFA continued the project at its own expense developing the P-16 for the global market by building and testing two more aircraft. However, the jet was perceived as too complicated for general field conditions by the world’s air forces, especially the complex wing systems of front and rear flaps and ailerons. Also the price was cost prohibitive to most governments compared to less expensive alternatives.

Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein photo of P-16 first prototype

The P-16s assembled were then taken apart and later one aircraft was completed from the parts for display in the FFA portion of the Swiss Air Force Museum at Dübendorf Air Base near Dübendorf, Switzerland.

Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein photo of P-16 prototype

An aspect of success for the P-16 program was the development of the Learjet family of business jets founded by William Powell Lear in the late 1950s as the Swiss American Aviation Corporation. The first business jet being designed from what Mr. Lear saw and learned from the P-16 projects was designated the Swiss American Aircraft Corporation SAAC-23, later known as Learjet 23 which accomodated 6 passengers with a crew of two, first flying on 7 October 1963.

Swiss American Aviation Corporation photo of P-16 and SAAC-23

Learjet went on to design and build 15 different designs of corporate jet aircraft, also used by various militaries for transporting officers. So, although the FFA P-16 was not a success in the military market, it has been indirectly very successful in the civilian and commercial markets. For this reason IRMA selected this kit for IRMA Kit No. 6 Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein FFA P-16. And since we have help directly from the FFA Museum in Switzerland, this will be the most accurate kit on the market.

National Air and Space Administration photo of Learjet 23

Dimensions:

Wingspan: 36’ 7" (11.15 m)

Length: 47’ 0" (14.33 m)

Height: 14’ 0" (4.27 m)

Weight: 25,800 lbs (11,713 kgs0 

Performance Data:

Maximum Speed: 695 mph (1,120 kmh)

Range: 900 miles (1450 km)

Thrust: 11,000 lbs (50 kN)

Armament: 2x 30 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.825 cannons, 44x 68 mm Matra FFAR rockets

Crew: 1

Engine: Armstrong Siddeley ASSa.6 Sapphire

- Zane R Nobbs, © Copyright, IRMA 2013

References for this article:

P-16, Prototypes Suisses d'Avions à Réaction N-20, Lear Jet, Piranha ([From the] P-16, Swiss Propulsion Prototypes to N-20, Lear Jet, Piranha), by Luc Leonardi, Éditions Secavia, 2011

Rand McNalley Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, by Enzo Angelucci, Military Press, 1980.

World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft, by Enzo Angelucci, Crown Publishers, Inc., 1982

The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, by David Donald, Barnes and Noble Books, 1997

Private Aircraft: Business and General Purpose, by Kenneth Munson, Macmillan, 1967

Graphic images on this page copyright by IRMA 2013

Images on this page are used by permission or believed to be in the public domain. If you own one or more images and can prove you are the original owner, we will remove the image(s).

Artwork on this page by Zane R Nobbs                       Box Art by Zane R Nobbs