The Militär-Apparat MA-7, also known as the Häfeli MA-7 and K & W MA-7, was a prototype
fighter designed by August Häfeli in
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. It flew in two different engine configurations, neither of which were deemed satisfactory and so the type did not enter series production. However, it did achieve a Swiss record for flying at an altitude of above sea level in 1926.
Design and development
Designed by August Häfeli in response to a
Swiss Air Force
The Swiss Air Force (german: Schweizer Luftwaffe; french: Forces aériennes suisses; it, Forze aeree svizzere; rm, Aviatica militara svizra) is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914 as a part of the army and ...
requirement for an indigenous fighter design, the MA-7 was a biplane of fabric-covered wood construction with N-shaped wing struts like its predecessor the
Fokker D.VI
The Fokker D.VI was a German fighter aircraft built in limited numbers at the end of World War I. The D.VI served in the German and Austro-Hungarian air services.
Design and development
In late 1917, Fokker-Flugzeugwerke built two small biplane ...
of 1918. Ailerons were installed only on the upper wing, which also contained an auxiliary gravity fuel tank. Power was provided by a
Hispano-Suiza 8
The Hispano-Suiza 8 was a water-cooled V8 SOHC aero engine introduced by Hispano-Suiza in 1914, and was the most commonly used liquid-cooled engine in the aircraft of the Entente Powers during the First World War. The original Hispano-Suiza ...
Fb HS42
V-8 liquid-cooled engine manufactured in Switzerland under license. The aircraft was built by
K & W in 1925 and handed over for trials in February 1926.
The prototype was returned to the manufacturer in April 1926 due to unsatisfactory flight characteristics and performance. K & W responded with the installation of an indigenous
LFW-12 X-1 engine. This, however, proved too large and heavy for the frame and entire MA-7 project was subsequently discontinued. The Swiss Air Force procured the French
Dewoitine D.1
The Dewoitine D.1 was a French single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1920s, built by the French industrial company Dewoitine.
Development
The D.1 was the first airplane designed by Emile Dewoitine after he established his own company. The D.1 was ...
as their replacement fighter instead.
[
]
Records
On 23 April 1926, test pilot Max Cartier set a Swiss record of above sea level with the MA-7.
Operators
;
* Swiss Air Force
The Swiss Air Force (german: Schweizer Luftwaffe; french: Forces aériennes suisses; it, Forze aeree svizzere; rm, Aviatica militara svizra) is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914 as a part of the army and ...
Specifications
See also
References
{{Authority control
1920s Swiss fighter aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Biplanes
Aircraft first flown in 1926