The Klemm Kl 35 is a German sporting and training aeroplane developed as a successor to the Kl 25. A product of Klemm Leichtflugzeugbau Gmbh it shared the same single-engine, cantilever low-wing configuration as the earlier machine, the major difference being the introduction of an inverted gull wing.
Probably Klemm's most important type,[1] the fully aerobatic aeroplane was shown for the first time publicly in October 1935 at the international Air Show in Milan and soon found many private buyers. Powered initially by an 80 hp (60 kW) HirthHM60Rinline,[1] it had fixed undercarriage,[1] mixed wood and fabric covering,[1] and the choice of open or closed cockpit.[1] Powered by the Hirth 60R, it became the Kl 35A (with floats, Kl 35AW),[1] while with the 105 hp (78 kW) Hirth, it was the Kl 35A (with floats, Kl 35AW).[1]
An improved Kl 35D, designed as a Luftwaffe trainer, with 105 hp (78 kW) Hirth HM 504A-2 engine and the option of ski or float landing gear, appeared in 1938.[1] It was the most numerous, with over three thousand built.[1]
A number of air forces purchased copies, including the Romanian, Hungarian, and Slovak.[1] The Swedish Air Force bought several,[1] designated Sk 15, for training use (at least five of those were seaplanes) and in 1941 began licence production, building about 74 more,[1] with some remaining in service until 1951.[1] The Lithuanian air force flew three.[1]
Development
The Kl 35 was designed in 1934 under the auspices of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). Dipl. Ing. Friedrich Fecher had overall responsibility for the construction. The so-called Gemischtbauweise construction was used: steel for fuselage, wood for wings and tail units and only small quantities of light alloy for linings were used. This became a preferred building method with the RLM around this time, because from considerations of strategic material availability.
Production
Klemm suffered a setback in 1935 when the prototype Kl 35 crashed during testing at Rechlin. The results of further trial must have been satisfactory, because in July 1936, 23 aircraft were ordered for delivery between July and September 1937, with production planned to increase to 3 per month. Klemm was at the time manufacturing the Fw 44 under licence from Focke-Wulf.
By this time the RLM was already looking for a sub-contractor to build the Kl 35A under licence, choosing Fieseler which was already undertaking licence production of the He 72 and Fw 58 alongside Storchs at its Kasseler plant.
Further orders, to a total of 1,386, followed and new variants came on line, beginning with the Kl 35B with a new engine.
Manufacture at Fieseler ceased in November 1939, after 365 aircraft, when the RLM transferred licence production to Zlin in occupied Czechoslovakia.
Production ended in May 1943 with total production for the Luftwaffe having reached 1,302. The balance of production was for private and export customers, though since these would have to number nearly 700 to reach the oft-quoted total of around 2,000 this may be exaggerated.
Operational history
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2017)
Variants
Kl 35a
The first prototype, powered by a 60-kW (80-hp) Hirth HM60R piston engine.
Kl 35b
Second prototype.
Kl 35A
Initial production version, powered by a 60-kW (80-hp) Hirth HM60R piston engine
Kl 35B
Version, powered by an 80-kW (105-hp) Hirth HM 504 A2 piston engine. Covered single-strut landing gear
Kl 35BW
Floatplane version.
KL 35C
Version with wooden fuselage soon renamed as Kl 106, intended for production under licence in the United States, just one built
Kl 35D
Improved version with triangle landing gear.
Kl 35E
Version powered by an improved 80-kW (105-hp) Hirth HM 500 engine
Klemm Kl 35D, D-EDOD, Werk-Nr. 1917, ex D-ELLY, flown by Liesel Bach, Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin D
Klemm Kl 35D, D-EQXD, Werk-Nr. 1979, ex G-KLEM was owned and operated by Peter Holloway at Old Warden, Bedfordshire, UK. Sold to Germany, Paderborn[2][3]
Klemm Kl 35D D-EBUX, Werk-Nr. 1981, 5-182, Fv 5052,'ex SE-BHT major overhaul since 2011, Eutingen D, 1st flight after overhaul 2019-08-01
Klemm Kl 35D SE-BGA, Werk-Nr. 1983, 5-184, flew again after nearly 50 years on 19 December 2009. It is based at Siegerland-Airport EDGS, .[4]
Specifications (Klemm Kl 35D)
Data from The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II[5]
^ abcdefghijklmnKetley, Barry, and Rolfe, Mark. Luftwaffe Fledglings 1935-1945: Luftwaffe Training Units and their Aircraft (Aldershot, GB: Hikoki Publications, 1996), p.12.
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