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

Friedrichshafen FF 48
   Designed to undertake a more offensive role, the FF 48 was classed as a two-seat fighter seaplane (Seekampf), both pilot and observer being equipped with machine-guns. A direct-drive 240 h.p. Maybach engine gave a good turn of speed to a relatively large machine. Only three machines (Nos. 1472-1474) were built and supplied from April 1917 on. Span, 16.25 m. (53 ft. 3 7/8 in.). Length, 11.2 m. (36 ft. 9 in.). Height, 4.4 m. (14 ft. 5 1/4 in.). Area, 68 sq.m. (734 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,591 kg. (3,500 lb.). Loaded, 2,216 kg. (4,885 lb.). Speed. 153 km.hr. (95.56 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3.280 ft.) in 6.4 min. Duration, 5 3/4 hr. Armament, one fixed Spandau forward and one manually operated Parabellum machine-gun in rear cockpit.

J.Herris German Seaplane Fighters of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 2)

Friedrichshafen FF48

   Friedrichshafen, who produced more seaplanes than any other German company during the war, built their FF48 to the same requirement as the W19. The FF48 had good speed and climb for such a large floatplane but may have lacked the necessary maneuverability, and only three were built, indicating it had no significant advantages over the W19. Certainly it required more wire bracing than the W19 and did not have the look of a fighter.

J.Herris Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 21)

Friedrichshafen FF48

   Friedrichshafen built their FF48 two-seat fighter to the same requirement as the W19. The FF48 had good speed and climb for such a large floatplane but may have lacked the necessary maneuverability, and only three were built, indicating it had no significant advantages over the W19. Certainly it required more wire bracing than the W19 and did not have the look of a fighter. Armament was the standard fixed gun for the pilot and one flexible gun for the observer.

Friedrichshafen FF48 Specifications
Engine: 240 hp Maybach Mb.lVa
Wing: Span 16.25 m
Area 68.0 m2
General: Length 11.20 m
Height 4.40 m
Empty Weight 1,591 kg
Loaded Weight 2,216 kg
Maximum Speed: 153 km/h
Cruising Speed: 130 km/h
Range: 740 km
Climb: 1000m 6.4 min
2000m 14.1 min
3000m 23.1 min

Журнал Flight

Flight, October 23, 1919.

SOME FRIEDRICHSHAFEN "MILESTONES"

"The F.F. 48
   "This machine was designed as a two-seater fighter and was fitted with a 240 h.p. Maybach engine with direct drive (Fig. 27). The machine was very fast, had an extraordinarily good climb, and yet was very seaworthy. In spite of the heavy motor and the great quantity of fuel (sufficient for 5 1/2 hours) the F.F. 48 was very handy. With the rear machine gun it was possible to fire over the top plane and between the propeller tips and the inner pair of interplane struts. The fixed machine gun was built-in to the right of the engine and was worked by the pilot.