AEKKEA-RAAB R-29
Encyclopedia
The R-29 fighter belongs to a number of plane types that were developed in Greece
by AEKKEA-RAAB
, a company founded in this country by Antonius Raab, a German
airplane designer, and his Greek partners. Other reported models of the new company were related to earlier products of the Raab-Katzenstein
company that had previously operated in Germany
. These included the R-27 single-seat fighter
, introduced in 1935. It featured a light construction with wooden wings, steel-tube fuselage
and a Hispano-Suiza
12Y engine; its maximum speed was 430 km/h. However, there is apparently no production record for this type. The R-29 was a completely new design developed by Raab’s Greek company in late 1936, featuring similar structural characteristics with the aforementioned type, a Fairchild Ranger engine, cantilever
single-leg undercarriage
, two machine-guns, and a maximum speed of 473 km/h. There seems to be some discrepancy between Jane's contemporary reporting it as a "fighter", and Raab's later description (in his book) of the plane as a "trainer". However, at least one more contemporary document (documents for export to Spain) describes it as fighter, so an error (or a perception of its possible use as an advanced trainer, as Raab clearly describes it as a single seater) in Raab's book, written almost half a century later, cannot be precluded. This plane, along with another new type, the Tigerschwalbe 33 (apparently a renamed R-26V), was destined for the Republican forces
in Spain
. The main and all complex parts of 30 planes of each type were produced in Greece and shipped to Spain, where a subsidiary company carried out assembly and fitting of certain parts. Here, too, there is some discrepancy, as a major AEKKEA aircraft engineer, Georgios Pangakis, had reported 40 (rather than 30) R-29s shipped to Spain in almost finished state, only missing engines and machine guns. According to Raab, the 60 or so almost finished planes of both types, together with the construction plans, were handed over to the Soviets
by the Republicans and shipped to the USSR, their fate remaining unknown.
There seems to be no surviving image of the plane (after invaluable AEKKEA files in Greece were destroyed during an archive move), with only a description of the plane layout provided in Jane's contemporary publication. Also, while records for export to Spain exist, there is no source (other than Raab's own book) providing information regarding the planes' fate afterwards. This probably has to do with the secrecy surrounding Soviet military activities at the time.
Nonetheless, it seems that ending up in Soviet hands, this unknown fighter has taken part in WWII against the Germans in one way or another.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
by AEKKEA-RAAB
AEKKEA-RAAB
The history of AEKKEA , an aircraft maker based in Greece, is connected with the fascinating history of a talented German aircraft designer, Antonius Raab The history of AEKKEA (Anonymos Etaireia Kataskevis Kai Ekmetallefseos Aeroplanon - Societe Anonyme Pour la Fabrication et l'Exploitation des...
, a company founded in this country by Antonius Raab, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
airplane designer, and his Greek partners. Other reported models of the new company were related to earlier products of the Raab-Katzenstein
Raab-Katzenstein
Raab-Katzenstein was a 1920s German aircraft manufacturer based in Kassel.The main character of the company was its designer Gerhard Fieseler. Following World War I, he returned to printing, but yearned to return to flying...
company that had previously operated in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. These included the R-27 single-seat fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
, introduced in 1935. It featured a light construction with wooden wings, steel-tube fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
and a Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automotive and engineering firm, best known for its luxury cars and aviation engines in the pre-World War II period of the twentieth century. In 1923, its French subsidiary became a semi-autonomous partnership with the parent company and is now part of the French SAFRAN...
12Y engine; its maximum speed was 430 km/h. However, there is apparently no production record for this type. The R-29 was a completely new design developed by Raab’s Greek company in late 1936, featuring similar structural characteristics with the aforementioned type, a Fairchild Ranger engine, cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
single-leg undercarriage
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
, two machine-guns, and a maximum speed of 473 km/h. There seems to be some discrepancy between Jane's contemporary reporting it as a "fighter", and Raab's later description (in his book) of the plane as a "trainer". However, at least one more contemporary document (documents for export to Spain) describes it as fighter, so an error (or a perception of its possible use as an advanced trainer, as Raab clearly describes it as a single seater) in Raab's book, written almost half a century later, cannot be precluded. This plane, along with another new type, the Tigerschwalbe 33 (apparently a renamed R-26V), was destined for the Republican forces
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The main and all complex parts of 30 planes of each type were produced in Greece and shipped to Spain, where a subsidiary company carried out assembly and fitting of certain parts. Here, too, there is some discrepancy, as a major AEKKEA aircraft engineer, Georgios Pangakis, had reported 40 (rather than 30) R-29s shipped to Spain in almost finished state, only missing engines and machine guns. According to Raab, the 60 or so almost finished planes of both types, together with the construction plans, were handed over to the Soviets
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
by the Republicans and shipped to the USSR, their fate remaining unknown.
There seems to be no surviving image of the plane (after invaluable AEKKEA files in Greece were destroyed during an archive move), with only a description of the plane layout provided in Jane's contemporary publication. Also, while records for export to Spain exist, there is no source (other than Raab's own book) providing information regarding the planes' fate afterwards. This probably has to do with the secrecy surrounding Soviet military activities at the time.
Nonetheless, it seems that ending up in Soviet hands, this unknown fighter has taken part in WWII against the Germans in one way or another.