Main Menu

Germany's Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu (Eagle Owl) reconnaissance^1,2

Focke-Wulf 189 Uhu:
Germany's Focke-Wulf 189 Uhu Reconnaissance Aircraft

The wheels were very tough allowing the Fw 189 to use rough air fields.¹ The wheels retracted into armored doors.¹

There were four ETC 50 racks that could carry anti-personnel bombs but were often empty.¹

The wings were very strong.¹ Flaps were electrically operated.¹ The Rudders, elevator, and ailerons were manual.¹

The twin booms and the full length elevator in the tail allowed for exceptional maneuverability.¹

Kurt Tank flew the prototype in June 1938.¹
The first prototype flew in July 1938.²

The media called it "The Flying Eye."^1,2

Built at Focke-Wulf's Bremen factory, and in Czechoslovakia and France.¹

Fw 189:
Fw 189A-0: Pre production.²
Fw 189A-1: Production model.² Reconnaissance.²
Fw 189A-2: Dual control trainer.²
Fw 189A-3: Dual control trainer.²
Fw 189A-4: Tactical support.² Had 20 mm cannons in the wing roots replacing the MGs.²
Fw 189B: Five seat trainer.^1,2
Fw 189C: Experimental version with a heavily armored cabin to be used for close assault.¹ Only two crew.¹
Fw 189D: A trainer that had floats, but it was never flown.¹
Fw 189F: Built in France.² Had Argus AS 411 engine (580 HP).²
Fw 189 V4: Prototype that could spray mustard gas.¹

Used primarily for reconnaissance, but also used for casualty evacuation, night fighting, and ground support.¹

Entered service in late 1940.¹ A total of nine long range and 15 short range reconnaissance groups were formed.¹

Used by the Slovakian and Hungarian air forces.^1,2 Hungary received about 30 Fw 189A-2s.² Slovakia received 14 Fw 189A-1s.²

	Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu²	Focke-Wulf Fw 189A-1 Uhu²	Focke-Wulf Fw 189A-2 Uhu¹
Type	Reconnaissance² Close support²		Reconnaissance¹ Army cooperation¹
Crew	3²		3¹
Engine (Type)	2: Argus As 410A-1²		2: Argus As410A-1 piston¹
Cylinders	Inverted V 12²		Inverted V-12¹
Cooling
Net HP	465 each²		460 each¹
Propeller blades	2²
Dimensions
Span	60' 4.5"² 18.4 m²		60' 4"¹ 18.4 m¹
Length	39' 4"² 11.99 m²		39' 5"¹ 12.03 m¹
Height	10' 2"² 3.1 m²		16' 2"¹ 3.1 m¹
Wing area			409 ft² ¹ 38 m² ¹
Weight
Empty		5,930 lb² 2,690 kg²
Loaded		8,708 lb² 3,950 kg²	9,174 lb¹ 4,170 kg¹
Performance
Speed			217 mph¹ 350 kph¹
Speed @ 8,530' / 2,600 m		221 mph² 355 kph²
Cruising speed		197 mph² 317 kph²	189 mph¹ 305 kph¹
Endurance			2 hours 10 minutes¹
Climb		1,017'/minute² 310 m/minute²
Climb to 13,120' / 4,000 m		8.3 minutes²
Service ceiling		27,560'² 8,400 m²	23,950'¹ 7,300 m¹
Range		416 - 584 miles² 670 - 940 km²	415 miles¹ 670 km¹
Armament
Nacelle roof			2: 7.9 mm MG 81¹
Wing roots		2: 7.9 mm MG²	2: 7.9 mm MG 81^1,2
Dorsal, above navigator		1 or 2: 7.9 mm MG²	2: 7.9 mm MG 81¹ 1 or 2: 7.9 mm MG²
Tail position		1 or 2: 7.9 mm MG²	1 or 2: 7.9 mm MG²
Bombs		4: 110 lb² 4: 50 kg²	4: 110 lb² 880 lb¹ 4: 50 kg² 400 kg¹

Sources: