The Fi 167’s low flying speed made an unassisted deck launch plausible in theory, but a fully laden torpedo aircraft would still be harder to get airborne. The Fairey Swordfish shows why low-speed biplanes could offer more launch flexibility than faster, heavier aircraft. Rocket-assisted take-off offered one possible way to bridge the gap between an aircraft’s basic handling qualities and its wartime load. Payload and operating conditions determined whether the trolley was needed.
Notable Point · 15:05-15:29
Fi 167 payloads and assisted take-off
The low-speed Fi 167 might launch without Graf Zeppelin’s trolley in favourable conditions, while full war loads could make rocket assistance useful.