Hafeli MA-7 (Militar-Apparat MA-7)

History

The Hafeli MA-7, also known as the K+W MA-7, was a Swiss fighter plane developed by August Hafeli for the Swiss Air Force. It originated from the earlier Hafeli DH-2 and was designed as a single-seat, single-engine biplane with upper and lower wing structures and a fabric-covered wood and metal design. The aircraft was equipped with a 300hp Hispano-Suiza V-8 engine and two nose-mounted 7.45mm machine guns. Its first flight was in 1925.

Despite its promising design, the MA-7 faced performance and stability issues during tests in early 1926. Efforts to enhance it with a more powerful 400hp LFW-12 "X-1" engine were unsuccessful due to the engine's excessive weight and size. As a result, the Swiss Air Force abandoned the MA-7 project in favor of purchasing French Dewoitine D.1 all-metal fighter jets. Only one prototype of the MA-7 was ever built.

The MA-7 had a top speed of 160 mph, a cruising speed of 145 mph, and a range of 190 miles. It could reach a service ceiling of 24,900 feet, with a climb rate of 1,810 feet per minute. Notably, pilot Max Cartier set a Swiss altitude record of 32,200 feet with the MA-7 in April 1926, highlighting the aircraft's potential despite its flaws.

Specification

Base

Year of Service: 1926

Origins: Switzerland

Status: Cancel

Crew: 1

Production: 1

Manufacturer: Swiss Federal Design Studio (K+W) / Hafeli - Switzerland

Operator: Switzerland

Roles

Air-to-air combat, fighter: The general ability to actively attack other aircraft of similar form and function, usually using guns, missiles and/or airborne missiles.

X-Plane (development, prototype, tech demo): Aircraft designed for prototyping, technology demonstration, or research/data collection.

Notable Features

Sync/Interrupt Gear: The automatic weapons are synchronized through a special mechanical gear assembly and fired by rotating propeller blades.

Leafy: Added more main aircraft to improve inherent agility and provide tactical advantage in close combat.

Sturdy aircraft frame: The inherent ability of the airframe to take significant damage.

High-speed performance: Can accelerate to higher speeds than the average aircraft at the time.

High performance: The ability to fly and operate at higher altitudes than the average aircraft of the day.

Rating Process: A manual process to allow the pilot and/or crew to exit in the event of an onboard emergency.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 21.7 feet (6.60m)

Width/span: 32.5 feet (9.90m)

Height: 9.2 feet (2.79m)

Cured weight: 1,863 lbs (845kg)

MTOW: 2,679 lbs (1,215 kg)

Main surface structure

Biplane: The design features a biplane wing arrangement with one main plane element on top of the other. Biplanes have improved agility at the expense of increased drag.

Up and down: Two main aircraft configurations where elements are stacked and positioned at different points on the fuselage.

Straight: Floor plans involve the use of simple, straight main plan elements.

Performance

Installed: 1 x Hispano-Suiza 8Fb HS-42 V-8 300hp water-cooled piston engine driving a two-bladed propeller in the nose.

Maximum speed: 158 km/h (255 km/h | 138 knots)

Cruising speed: 146 km/h (235 km/h | 127 knots)

Maximum speed difference: +12 km/h (+20 km/h | 11 kn)

Maximum: 24,934 feet (7,600 m | 5 km)

Area: 186 km (300 km | 556 nautical miles)

Rate of climb: 1,810 ft/min (552 m/min)

Weapons

2 x 7.45mm machine guns mounted on the nose and fired synchronously by rotating propeller blades.