W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN FF 46 (D I) Germany

   In the summer of 1916, the German Navy ordered a variety of waterborne single-seat fighters for evaluation, one of these being the FF 43 twin-float single-bay biplane from the Manzell factory of the Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen on 8 June 1916. Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D III engine and armed with one synchronised 7,92-mm machine gun, the FF 43 was completed on 29 August 1916, and delivered to the Seeflugzeug Versuchs Kommando (Seaplane Testing Command) at Warnemunde for acceptance testing on 8 September. Sent to the Zeebrugge naval air station on 6 October for evaluation under operational conditions in the North Sea, the FF 43 was not accepted for production, being officially struck-off on 13 April 1917.

Max speed, 101 mph (163 km/h).
Time to 3,280 ft (1 000 m), 6.0 min, to 6,560 ft (2 000 m), 12.0 min.
Empty weight, 1,759 lb (798 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,377 lb (1078 kg).
Span, 32 ft 6 1/2 in (9,92 m).
Length, 28 ft 0 3/5 in (8,55 m).
Height, 10 ft 11 9/10 in (3,35 m).
Wing area, 333.69 sq ft (31,00 m2).

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

Friedrichshafen FF43

   Friedrichshafen was the largest supplier of seaplanes to the German Navy, and its products were noted for being robust and having good seakeeping qualities. The Friedrichshafen FF43, Marine #749, was an original seaplane fighter design powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III that first flew on 30 September 1916 but remained a single prototype. Mounting two
machine guns, it had a maximum speed of 163 km/h. This was slightly faster than the contemporary Albatros W4 that was selected for production, so the FF43 must have had other shortcomings, and one source notes that it had a poor rate of climb, which is probably why it was not selected for a production order.

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

Friedrichshafen FF43

   Friedrichshafen's FF43, Marine #749, was an original seaplane fighter design powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III that first flew on 8 September 1916. It was delivered to the SVK about 30 September but remained a single prototype. Mounting two machine guns, it had a maximum speed of 163 km/h. This was slightly faster than the contemporary Albatros W4 that was selected for production, so the FF43 must have had other shortcomings, and one source notes that it had a poor rate of climb, which is probably why it was not selected for a production order.
   Although it remained a single prototype, the German Navy was constantly short of aircraft and the FF43 was assigned to Zeebrugge for operational service. On November 10, 1916, Ltn.z.S. Schuler, while flying the FF43, shot down one of two Short seaplanes he encountered during a coastal patrol between Zeebrugge and Dunkirk.

Friedrichshafen FF43 Specifications
Engine: 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Wing: Span, Upper 9.92 m
Span, Lower 9.40 m
Area 31.0 m2
General: Length 8.55 m
Height 3.35 m
Empty Weight 798 kg
Loaded Weight 1,078 kg
Maximum Speed: 163 km/h
Range: 400 km
Climb: 1000m 6.0 min
2000m 9.0 min
3000m 22.0 min
Service Ceiling: 3,000 m

Журнал Flight

Flight, October 23, 1919.

SOME FRIEDRICHSHAFEN "MILESTONES"

"The F.F. 43
   "THIS machine, which is shown in Figs. 24 and 25, was a single-seater fighter, very easy on the controls and quite fast and with a good climb. It also started from and alighted on the sea very easily. By way of armament it was fitted with one, sometimes two, fixed machine-guns. A characteristic feature of this type was that the pilot sat with his eyes on a level with the rear spar of the top plane, so that he could easily look either over or under the plane, which was a great advantage for fighting in the air.