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

KNOLLER 70.01 Austria-Hungary

   The K.u.k.Fliegerarsenal Fischamend began construction during 1917 of two single-seat fighter prototypes, the 70.01 and 70.02, to the designs of Prof Richard Knoller. A single-bay unstaggered biplane of wooden construction powered by a 230 hp Hiero water-cooled six-cylinder inline engine, the Knoller fighter featured a flexible wing section intended to reduce drag by flattening with increased speed. Intended armament comprised two synchronised 8-mm Schwarzlose machine guns. Initially fitted with wing warping, the 70.01 flew for the first time on 23 November 1917, but suffered damage during a ground manoeuvre within a few days. During repairs at the Fliegerarsenal, the prototype was fitted with ailerons on the upper wing. From March until 20 June 1918, when it was damaged in a landing accident, it underwent official testing at Aspern. Having higher priority activities, the Fliegerarsenal transferred the tasks of repairing the 70.01 and completing the 70.02 to the Flugzeug Reparatur und Bau Anstalt (Fruba) in Vienna. The 70.01 was subjected to load testing in August 1918, and the 70.02, completed in September, was intended to continue the flight test programme, which, if successful, was to have resulted in an order (to be fulfilled by Fruba) for 10 pre-series aircraft. The end of hostilities was accompanied by discontinuation of the fighter development programme.

Max speed (estimated), 149 mph (240 km/h).
Span, 26 ft 3 in (8,00 m).
Length, 20 ft 10 in (6,35 m).
Height, 9 ft 4 1/5 in (2,85 m).

P.Grosz, G.Haddow, P.Shiemer Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One (Flying Machines)

Knoller 70.01 (new) and 70.02 (new)

  Professor Richard Knoller's final contribution to the war effort was a biplane fighter featuring the Knoller flexible wing profile. Designed to flatten with increasing speed, this lowered the drag that in turn added a small increment of speed. Powered by a 230 hp Hiero engine, a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph) was projected. On 11 January 1917, the Flugzeugwerk began the detail drawings for two prototypes, designated Knoller 70.01 and 70.02. The final drawings were not finished until June 1917, at which time the wings, fuselage structure, and metal components were nearing completion. A small scale model was satisfactorily tested in Knoller's vertical wind tunnel.
  The 70.01 prototype, in its original form fitted with wing-warping controls, was flown for the first time on 23 November 1917 by test pilot Karl Kriger. Later that month it was damaged during a ground maneuver and in the course of repair at the Flugzeugwerk, fitted with ailerons and a strengthened upper wing. Sent to Aspern in March 1918, the 70.01 prototype was tested through 20 June 1918 when it was damaged in a landing accident. Because Flugzeugwerk designers were fully engaged in the design of a 350 hp Knoller observation biplane, the task of modifying the 70.01 and completing the 70.02 prototype was assigned to the Flugzeug Reparatur und Bau Anstalt (Fruba), the aircraft repair branch of the Sigmund Jaray propeller works in Vienna. Before proceeding with flight testing, Flars, on 7 August 1918, planned to load test the 70.01 prototype to confirm the structural integrity of the uncommon wing cellule and small box spars, which were not readily verified by the customary static calculations. It is not known if these load tests were performed. The second prototype, 70.02, completed in September 1918, was to continue the flight test program. If the design proved successful, it was proposed that Fruba build a pre-production batch of ten fighters, one of which was to be sent to Adlershof for further load testing under German air service procedure. When the war ended development was stopped. Both prototypes were provisionally accepted in October 1918 so that Fruba could receive payment for work performed.

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

70. Flugzeuge der Flugzeugfabrik Fischamend, k.u.k. Fliegerarsenal
70.01 Knoller DD-Prototyp für D.I H 200