The Fw 200 was a record-setting airliner in a class of its own!
A Bold Vision
The 1920s and 1930s witnessed incredible advances in aircraft innovation and accomplishments. One of the highlights of this era was transatlantic travel, as exemplified by Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic journey in May of 1927. The nascent airline industry, inspired by rapidly evolving technology, sought to offer transatlantic service, and started with airships. In October of 1928, the Graf Zeppelin completed the first commercial transatlantic passenger flight in history. The massive airship lifted off from Friedrichshafen, Germany and flew to Lakehurst, New Jersey, USA completing the journey in 111 hours and 44 minutes.
While airplanes could fly faster than airships, none had the range of airships like the Graf Zeppelin. Using flying boats to cross the Atlantic for scheduled air service was a tentative plan, but they required refueling stopovers. A terrestrial-based airliner concept seemed unworkable, both due to range limitations and a lack of suitable airfields for large airplanes.
Despite monumental technical hurdles, German aircraft engineer Kurt Tank believed he could develop a land-based airplane capable of nonstop, transatlantic flight. The bold visionary, who led the engineering department of Focke-Wulf, proposed the concept to Deutsche Luft Hansa, the German national airline. The company adopted the plan and released a specification in June of 1936 calling for an airliner that could carry up to 26 passengers with a range of 1,860 miles (3,000 kilometers).
Engineering an Elegant Masterpiece
Focke-Wulf toiled for the next year, resulting in the creation of one of aviation history’s most beautiful icons. The Fw 200 was an all-metal, 4-engine monoplane with a large, high-aspect-ratio wing that was optimized for high-altitude, long-distance flight. It featured an unpressurized cabin, a standard empennage, and a retractable standard undercarriage.
Its striking, elegant form evolved from cutting edge aerospace engineering employed to maximize range and efficiency. The expansive wing inspired the name of the airplane, Condor, after the bird known for its large wingspan and ability to soar great distances.
The first prototype was designated the Fw 200 V-1. “V” stood for “Versuchsflugzeug,” German for “experimental aircraft.” It was powered by four wing-mounted, 875-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial piston engines.
The Condor Soars
The Fw 200 V-1 prototype took its maiden flight on July 27, 1937, to great success. It was redesignated Fw 200 S-1 in 1938, “S” standing for “Sonder,” German for “Special.” It was fitted with additional fuel tanks for extended flight time. On August 10, 1938, it lifted off from Berlin and flew nonstop to New York in just under 25 hours. The 4,000-mile flight set a record at the time for the longest distance flown by an airplane. The Fw 200 S-1 went on to set several more distance records.
The second Condor that Focke-Wulf built was designated the V-2 and named “Westfalen.” It measured 78 feet, 3 inches in length, stood 19 feet, 8 inches tall, with a wingspan of 108 feet, 2 inches. It was powered by four BMW 132G radial piston engines, each of which generated up to 720 horsepower and turned a 2-blade propeller.
The Fw 200 V-2’s range was 2,200 miles, the service ceiling 20,000 feet above sea level, a cruising speed of 208 miles per hour, and a top speed of 233 mph. Other variants had similar performance characteristics.
Several airlines used the Fw 200, including those of Germany, Brazil, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Focke-Wulf Fw 200 is a spectacular rendition of the original. Pilots will rejoice in the detail and flight performance of this graceful aircraft on flights around the world. The sky is calling!
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Focke-Wulf Fw 200 features three liveries: Classic Passenger (Black), Classic Passenger (Red), and Classic Metallic. The Condor is available today in the simulator for USD $14.99.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter).