Weiss Manfréd WM-23 "Ezüst Nyíl' "Silver Arrow"

[Zizi6785]

Span: 9.60m,
Length: 9.10m,
Height: 3.10m,
wing area: 23.5 sq.m,
Engine Mfg: Manfred Weiss, Model: WM-K14/B (761 kW) (licence Gnome-Rhone 14Kfrs),
Empty: 2100kg,
Normal Max: 2600kg,
Overload: 3290kg,
Max Speed: 530kph,
Cruise: 472kph,
Rate of Climb: 1000 mpm,
Range: 600km,
2 x 7.62mm MG + 2 x 20mm cannons.

 

[Zizi6785]

Maybe the most beautiful plane of the world:

 

[Antonio]

Excellent!, many thanks

Antonio

 

[Farloccus]

Thanks!

 

[Just call me Ray]

A single-engine fighter with two seats and a rear gunner? Interesting.

 

[airman]

the project seems was started from core of reggiane 2000 ! :

 

[Kim Margosein]

I dunno. Look at that gullish wing. Imagine a P-36 with He-112 wings.

Kim M

 

[Pepe Rezende]

the project seems was started from core of reggiane 2000 ! :

No, it was designed over the Heinkel He112B...

 

[Apophenia]

the project seems was started from core of reggiane 2000 ! :

Hungary acquired three He-112B-1/U2s in early 1939. But they also bought 70 Falcos (V-401 - V-470) from Reggiane as the Héja I. Both types were further developed in Hungary.

Perhaps you were thinking of the Hungarian-built Re.2000 derivative with Manfred Weiss-licenced K-14, the MÁVAG Héja II?

 

[Pepe Rezende]

More info here:

http://www.aviastar.org/air/hungary/weiss_wm-23.php

 

[Justo Miranda]

Additional info
Unknown source

 

[Justo Miranda]

Additional info
Unknown source
Post-2

 

[airman]

thanks Justo : incredible they had studied all possible configurations for WM-23 !

 

[Zizi6785]

thanks Justo : incredible they had studied all possible configurations for WM-23 !

All other configurations are fake.
Only the single seat version were be planned and built.

 

[lucamax]

Thanks for the information and beautiful drawings. I was just trying to find the story of this interesting airplane. At the end it never came into production?

 

[papacavy]

Yeah, those unusual WM.23 configurations are totally fictional. You see, I am the illustrator of the last several WM.23 drawings that Justo posted (I had sent them to him a few years ago for him to use as he wished. Guess he merely forgot who they were from and that's OK). The WM.23 with the Daimler-Benz engine was, according to the sources I had available to me at the time, considered but never really "designed". The 2-seat reconnaissance variant was designed at the same time as the single-seat fighter, but was never considered for production. I do believe that Weiss-Manfred (Manfred-Weiss according to some sources) was considering a German radial for the planned production model (memory wants me to say the BMW-801, but I don't think that that would have been available).

It would be interesting to see what the WM.23 would have been like with a BMW-801, though. Now just let me find the CADD files...

Anyway, all the other "designs" were just my imagination working overtime, as it is wont to do with interesting airplanes.

The Hungarians only built ONE WM.23 and that one crashed sometime during the flight test phase.

On another note, while some sources designated the Daimler-Benz version as the WM.123, other, more reliable Hungarian sources, state that this variant was probably designated as the WM.22 (or maybe the WM.24? Please correct me if I am wrong).

Last note for Justo: Please my friend, don't think I am accusing you of plagiarism or stealing my drawings. I know you to be an honorable and trustworthy man, and THE BEST DAMNED ILLUSTRATOR I HAVE EVER SEEN!! I may not have put my name of the drawings when I gave them to you. My apologies.

 

[Zizi6785]

As I said, only one prototype built in 1939 and crashed 1941. All other versions only in fiction.

Here some pictures from the original model, that refurbished in 2001:

http://www.ara.bme.hu/galeria/foto/wm23/wm23.htm
http://www.ara.bme.hu/galeria/foto/wm23/wm23_old.htm

A small video:
http://www.ara.bme.hu/galeria/video/wm23/wm23_modell.avi

Good 1:72 resin model is available!

 

[lark]

It should be interesting to split the "might have been designs"
from the pure fictional ones...

 

[Tophe]

The WM-123 with DB.605 engine is very beautiful anyway, completing the DB family of 1940s fighter-beauties (He100, Bf109, Pyorremyrsky, Italian ones?). Thanks to have presented it!

 

[Antonio]

All other configurations are fake.
Only the single seat version were be planned and built.

pictures are numbered 1 to 14, could you please tell me which numbers are fictional please?

Thanks a lot

 

[papacavy]

The fictional ones are numbered 11 through 14. Believe me, I could have gotten even more weird than those if I had the time to "play" with the drawings more!

 

[Tophe]

So, is the beautiful 7 true? Great, not only for what-ifers so... ;D

 

[papacavy]

As far as I know, #7, the Daimler-Benz powered WM.23, was a real project, although it never progressed further than the drawing board. Pity.

Now, imagine, if the WM.23 HAD entered full-scale service with Hungary's air force in 1941. How would it have faired against Allied (i.e American & British) planes and how would it have faired against the Soviet Air Force?

Would the Hungarians, after being overrrun by the Soviets, have attempted to use a Soviet radial in the plane?

Ah, the imagination is a terrible thing to waste, but such fun to use!

 

[EbalMamku666]

Additional info
Unknown source
Post-2

nice planes

 

[blackkite]

Indeed.

 

[Justo Miranda]

Hi

 

[Zizi6785]