Photograph:
German-registered Fischer RW-3 Multoplan D-EJAS in Germany (Author’s collection)
Country of origin:
Germany
Description:
Self-launched glider
Power Plant:
One 56 kw (75 hp) Porsche 678/4 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.59 m (34 ft 9 in)
- Length: 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
- Height: 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 14 m² (151 sq ft)
- Max speed: 209 km/h (130 mph)
- Cruising speed: 97 km/h (112 mph)
- Cruising speed at 77% power: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Service ceiling: 4,481 m (14,700 ft)
- Rate of climb: 351 m/min (1,150 ft/min)
- Range: 805 km (500 miles)
- Endurance: 5 hours
- Fuel capacity: 60 litres (13.2 Imp gals)
- Take-off run: 200 m (656 ft)
- Empty weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
- Loaded weight: 859 kg (1,894 lb)
History:
The Fischer RW-3 Multoplan was designed by Hanno O Fischer, a World War II fighter pilot, as a practical and economical means of transport for two, being a fully aerobatic light aeroplane. The aircraft had a folding wing for towing behind a car and storage and was said to be able to be rigged for flight in ten minutes. It had a tricycle undercarriage and rubber pads under compression in tubes were fitted as shock absorbers. Power was supplied initially by a 48 kw (65 hp) dual-ignition development of the standard Porsche four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine.
The prototype was first flown in 1955 as the Fibo 2a D-EJAS and it entered production in 1958 as the RW-3A Multoplan which seated two in tandem, a total of 27 examples being completed. The design was initially to prove the aerodynamic principles the designer expounded. Dual controls were provided. The propeller was unusual in that it was mounted in a vertical slot between the fin and the rudder. A further test vehicle was the RW-3A-V2. When it was used for gliding the two-blade propeller was stopped vertically between the rudder and tail out of the way.
A production licence was granted to Rhein Flugzeugbau GmbH and it built the type at its facility at Krefeld-Uerdingen. The first production aircraft was flown on 8 February 1958 and this, and all production aircraft, became known as the RW-3.P75, being fitted with the 56 kw (75 hp) Porsche 678/4 engine. The company produced 22 aircraft.Production was discontinued in 1961 but one further example was built by an amateur constructor. Two examples of a higher powered variant known as the RW-3C-90 Passat were delivered and these offered optional wingtip extension panels. At least two are known to have survived in Germany, and one has been (D-EIFF) held by the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin.
Power plant of the approximately 22 examples completed was the Porsche 678/4 four-cylinder converted car engine which was of 1588 cc, providing 56 kw (75 hp) at 4,600 rpm and weighing 114 kg (251 lb).
One example of the Multoplan was imported to Australia as a demonstrator. Registered D-ELAL the machine was powered by a Porsche Type 678/4 engine and was owned and operated by Mr Norman Hamilton who, at the time in the 1960s, was the Australian importer and distributor of Porsche cars. During its time in Australia well known glider pilot, Frederick Douglas Hoinville, was engaged as its demonstration pilot and it was during a tour of the eastern States that the aircraft crashed at Goulburn, NSW on 18 April 1959 when the aircraft failed to become airborne and crashing through a fence at the end of the runway. Mr Hamilton was in the rear seat at the time and suffered extensive injuries. It was being flown by Mr Hoinville, who died as a result of his injuries. The aircraft was dismantled and returned to Germany where it was repaired but was not again imported, and no further examples are known to have been imported.