Maxford USA Fieseler Fi-156c STORCH Instruction Manual

FIESELER Fi-156c STORCH V2.1
I N S T R U C T I O N M A N U A L
Congratulations on your acquisition of Maxford USA's Fieseler Fi-156c Storch!
The Fi-156 was created as a reconnaissance, liaison and air-ambulance aircraft in 1936 by Dr. Gerhard Fieseler. This unique airplane‟s
legs, struts and windows stuck out everywhere, and its landing gear hung down, looking very much like a long-legged, big-winged bird,
so it was given the nickname "Storch" (the German word for stork).
Virtually nothing about a Storch is streamlined. It was a purpose-built, short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft which, with a bit of
headwind, could become airborne in less than 200 feet, and when its low landing speed was combined with a strong headwind, the
Storch appeared to land vertically, and sometimes looked like it was flying backwards.
German Field Marshall Irwin Rommel used his Storch to fly over the front lines as he led the Deutschland Africa Korps.
At least 60 Storchs were captured by the Allies in the course of World War II – which is how Eighth Army British Field Marshal
Bernard „Monty‟ Montgomery obtained a Storch for use as his personal aircraft.
A famous event involving a Storch occurred in September 1943: Hitler sent a commando team to rescue Italian dictator Benito
Mussolini from a mountain stronghold in northern Italy. Led by Otto Skorzeny, the Germans landed a Storch on the 10,000-foot
mountain peak, freed Mussolini, and took off from the prison‟s courtyard. However, the heavily laden craft failed to clear an
outcropping of rock and struck the mountainside in a controlled crash. Nonetheless, the Storch immediately rebounded into the air,
picked up flying speed, and both the Fi-156 Storch and Mussolini successfully escaped.
Unusual for a land-based aircraft, the Storch‟s wings could be folded back in a manner similar to those of a carrier-based fighter,
allowing it to be transported on a trailer or towed behind a vehicle.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. After more than a year of design and testing, our original Storch was the first to
offer easy-to-operate folding wings. This new V2 has kept and improved on this
unique design feature.
2. Aileron hinges permit full UP & DOWN travel for the best-possible
roll-control.
3. In-wing mini-servo mounts for independent operation of the
ailerons, flaps and slats, and built-in tray for fuselage-mounted
rudder and elevator mini servos.
4. Included main wheels, scale-like spring-cushioned landing gear and
steerable tail wheel.
5. Windshield and cockpit windows are pretrimmed and preinstalled.
6. Cockpit‟s windowed roof doubles as a battery hatch secured by powerful rare-earth magnets.
7. All airframe assemblies are precovered in Mylar.
8. All required openings are predrilled and/or precut.
9. The fiberglass cowl is prepainted.
V2 IMPROVEMENTS:

Servos not included now leaves servo selection
(economy or name brand) to the customer.

New, improved-design landing gear.
(Optional „Detail Upgrade‟ items include a simulated machine gun, air speed sensor,
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light, oil cooler, dashboard and pilot seat – all packaged in a custom-built plywood box.)
V.2-150423
(Photo includes the optional 'Detail Upgrade' package.
 C
omposite parts are now used in place of
several parts previously made of wood.
Steerable tail wheel‟s linkage is simplified, with more positive control.

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Entire Contents © Copyright 2013 by Maxford USA
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