EKW C-36

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EKW_C-36

The EKW C-36 was a Swiss multi-purpose combat aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s,
built by the Eidgenoessische Konstruktionswerkstaette. It was a single-engined
monoplane with a crew of two. It entered service in 1942, and despite being
obsolete, remained in front line use until the early 1950s, and as a target tug
until 1987.

In 1935, the Swiss Air Force developed a requirement for a replacement for
Switzerland's Fokker C.V-E biplanes, which were used as reconnaissance aircraft,
escort fighters and patrol aircraft. To meet this requirement, the Swiss Federal
Constructions Works (EKW) proposed two designs, a modernised C.V, the EKW C-35
and an all new monoplane, the C-36.

Orders for 80 C-35s were placed in 1936, but no decision was made about whether
to order the C-36, with preference being given to the purchase of foreign
twin-engined aircraft for the role, attempts been made to buy Messerschmitt Bf
110s from Germany or Potez 63s from France. These attempts failed, however, and
in 1938 approval was given for EKW to complete detailed design of the C-36 and
to build a prototype.

The first prototype, the C-3601, carried out its maiden flight on 15 May 1939.
It was a low-winged cantilever monoplane of all-metal construction. It was
powered by a single licence-built Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine driving a
three-bladed variable-pitch propeller. A crew of two sat in tandem under a long,
continuous canopy. The aircraft was fitted with a twin tail, and had a fixed
tailwheel undercarriage.

The C-3601 crashed on 20 August 1939 due to wing flutter, but a second
prototype, the C-3602, which had a more powerful engine and a constant-speed
propeller flew on 30 November that year. Testing was successful, and orders were
placed in 1940 for an initial batch of 10 C-3603 with a retractable
undercarriage.


Role
Ground-attack aircraft

National origin
Switzerland

Manufacturer
EKW

First flight
15 May 1939

Introduction
1942

Primary user
Swiss Air Force

Number built
175

Variants
F+W C-3605

The C-3603s, along with EKW D-3801s, fought off trespassing aircraft to defend
Swiss neutrality, but were soon relegated to training and target-towing duties.
The last variant of the C-36 aircraft family, the turboprop powered C-3605, had
its maiden flight in 1968 remaining in service with the Swiss Air Force until
1988. Thanks to its Black and yellow striped colouration, the C-3605 was called
"Flying Zebra Crossing". After retirement several aircraft were kept airworthy
on the Civil aircraft register.

Specifications (C-3603)

General characteristics
Crew: Two
Length: 10.23 m (33 ft 2? in)
Wingspan: 13.74 m (45 ft 1 in)
Height: 3.29 m (10 ft 9½ in)
Wing area: 28.4 m2 (305.7 ft2)
Empty weight: 2,315 kg (5,103 lb)
Gross weight: 4,085 kg (9,006 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51, 746 kW (1,000 hp)

Performance
Maximum speed: 476 km/h (296 mph)
Range: 680 km (425 miles)
Endurance: 2 hours
Service ceiling: 8,700 m (28,550 ft)
Rate of climb: 10.4 m/s (2,050 ft/min)

Armament
1× 20 mm cannon and 2× 7.5 mm machine guns fixed forward firing
2× 7.5 mm machine guns in rear cockpit
400 kg (880 lb) bombs



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