Nazi Germany (1940)

Trainer aircraft: 13 built

Following the massive expansion of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) in the early 1930s, new aircraft models were needed to fulfill various roles left vacant due to the restrictions of the Versailles treaty. One of these roles was short-range reconnaissance. Initially, this need was met by the Hs 126, but it was eventually intended to be replaced by the more advanced and modern Fw 189. However, the production of the Fw 189 faced unnecessary delays due to skepticism from Luftwaffe officials, who were initially reluctant to invest in its unconventional design. In the interim, officials requested the development of a training aircraft, which Focke-Wulf provided with the Fw 189B variant. Despite its promising performance, only a small number of these trainers were constructed in 1940.

A Modern Reconnaissance Aircraft

The rise of the Nazis in Germany during the 1930s led to a massive military buildup, defying the limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, which by then was little more than a formality. Among the most rapidly expanding branches of the Wehrmacht was the Luftwaffe, which received substantial investment and development under Reichsmarshall Herman Göring, leading to the introduction of a series of modern aircraft for varying roles.

One of these roles, short-range reconnaissance, was initially assigned to the Henschel Hs 126. Despite its somewhat outdated appearance, this high-wing aircraft proved reasonably effective for its intended purpose, although it had several shortcomings. Its relatively low speed and the absence of a third crew member limited its effectiveness in reconnaissance missions.

Even as the Hs 126 entered service, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM), or German Air Ministry, took steps to develop a more advanced replacement. In 1937, they initiated a program to explore new designs. Although multiple projects were tested, the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 ultimately emerged as the most promising. The Fw 189 was developed by a team of engineers led by Kurt Tank, and while RLM officials were initially uncertain about the aircraft, they eventually placed an order for three prototypes. Construction on the first prototype, designated the Fw 189V1, began in April 1937 and was completed in 1938. It was soon followed by two additional prototypes.

As preparations for production were underway, the RLM initially decided to rely solely on the Hs 126 for the time being. However, after the successful conclusion of the Western campaign against the Allies in France in June 1940, Luftwaffe officials reconsidered their stance on the Hs 126. It became evident that this aircraft would soon be obsolete in its intended role, necessitating an urgent search for a replacement. The only aircraft that could potentially fulfill this role within a short timeframe was the Fw 189. Production thus began in the summer of 1940, and by 1944, fewer than 900 units of this aircraft had been built. Despite its limited production, the Fw 189 saw extensive service, and proved to be both popular and highly effective throughout the war.

 

Need for a new Trainer 

The Luftwaffe initially passed over the Fw 189A variant, which was intended for reconnaissance operations, but expressed interest in a new five-seat, multipurpose version of the aircraft. They envisioned this variant as a training platform for night-fighter operations and wireless communication tasks. Kurt and his team set out to design this new version, essentially retaining most of the Fw 189’s original design, its engines, wings, and tail assembly, to keep development time and cost low. The defensive weaponry was also removed to accommodate its new non-combat role.

The primary change involved replacing the original glazed cockpit with a more conventional fuselage better suited to training purposes. Additionally, dual controls were installed to facilitate instruction for both the pilot and trainee. For initial testing, Focke-Wulf modified the Fw 189V5 prototype to fit the new configuration. It was completed in early 1939 and allocated for testing and evaluation. After successful trials, an order was placed for three pre-production aircraft, designated Fw 189B-0. All were produced and delivered by the end of 1939.

Despite the promising design, Focke-Wulf received an order for only ten additional fw 189B-1 units of this variant, completed and delivered in 1940. The limited production run was likely influenced by Focke-Wulf’s focus on developing the new Fw 190 fighter, which required most of the company’s production resources and personnel, leaving little room for a trainer aircraft program.

In Service

Although only ten production aircraft of this type were built during the war, they were not simply discarded, considering the low interest in mass-producing the aircraft. Germany faced ongoing resource shortages, preventing them from producing even prototypes or limited production models. As a result, these planes were put into service. Despite the small number produced, finding spare parts was not a major issue, as the Fw 189A model had entered full production and shared many components with these aircraft.

The Fw 189B models were primarily used in their intended role as trainers during the war. Occasionally, they were repurposed for other roles, such as transporting high-ranking Luftwaffe personnel or serving as courier aircraft. These likely remained in use up to the end of the war, by which point they were either scrapped, lost in combat, destroyed during one of many Allied bombing runs, or were simply abandoned and left to the elements.

The Fw 189A production variant was, for its time, a rather unique design, featuring a glazed fuselage flanked by twin tail booms with engines mounted on each boom. This unusual configuration required new pilots to undergo specialized training. This is where the Fw 189B would have fulfilled the role of a training aircraft. However, as only a few of the B model were built and no similar aircraft existed in their inventory, the Germans were forced to reuse prototypes and pre-production Fw 189A aircraft for this purpose instead. These training variants were designated as Fw 189A-3 and were produced in only small numbers.

Technical Characteristics

The Fw 189B’s design remained largely the same as the production variant. The production model of the Fw 189A featured a distinctive, fully glazed fuselage, which housed the pilot’s position at the front, behind which was a small crew compartment, and a gunner’s position at the rear. However, in the trainer variant, this configuration was modified. The fully glazed compartment was replaced with a mostly enclosed one, as extensive glazing was unnecessary for training purposes.

In the new design, the canopy area was glazed, and a small rear canopy, glazed on the sides and top, provided visibility for the crew. Access to the aircraft’s interior was granted through a sliding canopy over the pilot’s seat, and additional hatches. Its overall construction consisted of round metal frames covered with duralumin-stressed skin.

The wings of the aircraft are composed of two main sections. The central, square-shaped panel connects the nacelle booms to the fuselage, while the outer section extends outward from the booms. The wing structure had a conventional duralumin, while the ailerons and split flaps were fabric-covered. At the rear, the twin-tail assembly featured two large rudders linked by a single, extended horizontal stabilizer. Both tail control surfaces are also covered in fabric.

The aircraft is powered by two 465-horsepower Argus As 410 A-1, 12-cylinder air-cooled engines. Each engine was paired with a two-blade propeller equipped with automatic pitch control. Fuel was stored in two 110-liter tanks located within the tail booms. The Fw 189A variant could reach a maximum speed of 335 km/h; however, sources provide limited details on the overall flight performance of the Fw 189B model. Given that its weight likely remained similar and the fuselage only received minor modifications, it can be reasonably assumed that its flight performance was similar to that of the Fw 189A. The landing gear included larger wheels positioned under each engine nacelle, with smaller wheels extending from the horizontal stabilizer. Later in the war, the Fw 189B models received strengthened landing gear to improve durability.

The aircraft crew consisted of five members: the pilot, two trainee pilots, and two additional crew members in support roles. The pilot and trainees were positioned in the front part of the fuselage. Toward the rear was an instructor and two additional operators who alternated between radio and navigation roles, depending on the specific training exercise. The FW 189 was equipped with both radio and navigational equipment; however, sources do not provide details on the exact types or quantities of the equipment on board. The radio was most commonly installed on top of the central nacelle.

Conclusion

Despite being labeled with the suffix “B,” this variant actually entered production before the Fw 189A. Although it appeared capable of fulfilling its intended role, limited production capacity and competing priorities placed it lower on the list of manufacturing priorities. After the initial order of ten aircraft, production was halted. Despite their limited numbers, these aircraft would until the end of the war, fulfilling their intended role.

Fw 189B-1 (Estimated) Specifications
Wingspans	18.4 m / 60 ft 4 in
Length	12 m / 39 ft 5 in
Height	3.1 m / 10 ft 2 in
Wing Area	38m² / 410 ft²
Engine	Two 465 hp Argus As 410 A-1 engines
Maximum Speed	335 km/h / 208 mph
Cruising Speed	315 km/h / 196 mph
Range	670 km / 416 miles
Maximum Service Ceiling	7,000 m / 22,965 ft
Crew	pilot, instructor, and three students
Armament	None

Illustration

Credits

• Article written by Marko P.
• Edited by  Henry H.
• Illustration by Oussama Mohamed “Godzilla”

Source:

• D. Donald (1996) German Aircraft of World War II, Orbis Publishing
• D. Nesic  (2008)  Naoružanje Drugog Svetsko Rata-Nemacka
• D. Monday (2006) The Hamlyn Concise Guide To Axis Aircraft OF World War II, Bounty Books
• J. R. Smith and A. L. Kay (1972) German Aircraft of the WW2, Putnam
• G. Punka (1993) Focke-Wulf Fw 189 in Action, Signal Publication
• Captain E. ‘Winkle’ Brown (2010) Wings of the Luftwaffe, Hikoki Publication
• https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-news/unique-focke-wulf-fw-189-offered-for-sale.html