Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor
In July 1936, Focke-Wulf's chief engineer Kurt Tank presented to Luft Hansa the idea of a four engined aircraft that would be able of crossing the Atlantic in a single flight. The Fw 200 would indeed make most of its career over the oceans, but for less pacific reasons.
The first prototype made its maiden flight on the 27thof July, 1937, exactly one year after Kurt Tank's proposal. It was equipped with four 875 hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet radials for this occasion. The two Fw 200A prototypes that followed had BMW 132 engines that were in fact modified Hornets built under licence.
The 14 civil Condor ever built were ordered by companies like Danish Airlines, Syndicato Condor of Brazil, Dai Nippon of Japan, Aero OY of Finland and of course Luft Hansa in Germany. Designed to carry 26 passengers on distances exceeding 900 miles (or 1,500 km) at 200 kts, the Fw 200B had a maximum take-off weight of 37,478 lb. (or 17,000 kg)
262 machines were built for military applications, like staff transport (The third prototype was later used by Hitler) and mostly as a long range maritime bomber, a role in which it proved excellent.
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