O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Hergt Monoplane
   This diminutive monoplane was designed and built at F.E.A. 1 Altenburg as a private venture by F. D. Hergt during 1918 and flown by Mario Scherff. Of interest are the ply-skinned wings, which medium also covered the fuselage. The sturdy crash pylon is also noteworthy. Engine, 80 h.p. Gnome. Span, 6.0 m. (19 ft. 8 1/4 in.). Length, 5.2 m. (17 ft. 0 3/4 in.). Speed, 125 km.hr. (78.125 m.p.h.). Armament, none.

J.Herris German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WW1. Vol I (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 49)

Hergt

   The small Hergt monoplane was designed and built at FEA 1 at Altenburg. F.D. Hergt was the designer and the prototype was flown by Mario Scherff. Unlike most monoplanes, the cantilever wings and fuselage were covered with plywood.
   The aircraft was unarmed and powered by an 80 hp Gnome rotary. The lack of armament and small size indicates the aircraft was intended for training use; installation of a low-power engine indicated the design was not intended for production as a fighter. Its small size and stubby wings suggest the French Rolleur non-flying taxi trainers although the Hergt actually flew. Perhaps its design and construction were primarily intended as a project to occupy and educate FEA 1 personnel.
   Dipl. Ing. Hergt also designed the larger NFW E.I that had similar construction and configuration.


Hergt Monoplane Specifications
Engine: 80 hp Gnome
Wing: Span 6.0 m
Area 9.0 m2
General: Length 5.2 m
Empty Weight 322 kg
Maximum Speed: 140 kmh

Журнал Flight

Flight, 1918.

   The diminutive machine on the picture is the private venture fighter designed by Dipl.-Ing. F.D. Hergt in 1918. The machine was actually built by the Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (F.E.A. 1) in Altenburg (Thuringen). An amazing feat that he could persuade the authorities to allocate precious resources and labour to this private venture.
   The resources were by the way very old-fashioned , given a 80 hp Gnome rotary (or the Oberursel 'licence' equivalent ?).
   The claim to fame of this machine was at least that is was flown by Mario Scherff who flew it as a test pilot.
   By the way Scherff was not very lucky in WW1 as he crashed as a Fokker test pilot with a Fokker M.7 (to be delivered to Austria) on 17 April 1915, luckily coming out of it alive. He spent a more than a year in the hospital at Schwerin. Fokker was not the most likable boss because a few days after the crash he fired Scherff and he never paid any visit to the hospital. After that (end 1916) Scherff started again as a test and acceptance pilot with other firms.