Klemm L 25

The Klemm L 25 is a two-seater monoplane out of tandem of school and of sport with traditional train German fixes Entre-deux wars.

Derived from the Daimler L 20

Drawn in 1927 by Hans Klemm and Robert Lusser, named responsible for the research department of Leichtflugzeugbau Klemm with Böblingen, it was an evolution of the Daimler L 20B, of which the prototype preserved timber structure, the back part of the wing and mobile surfaces being cloth-lined, but also the motorization, a Daimler F7502. Between 600 and 700 Klemm L 25/VL 25 were built between 1927 and 1936 with Böblingen, of many specimens being still in service at the beginning of the Second world war. Meanwhile they had become Klemm Kl 25 in the designation of RLM. One counts many versions, the modifications of cells being indicated by a small letter (has, B, C,…), and successive motorizations by Roman numerals (I, II, III,…):

All models… or almost

Klemm L 25 : The prototype and first specimens of series with engine Mercedes F7502 or F7502a.

Klemm L 25I: Appeared in 1928 with an engine Salmson 9Ad and replacement of the system of warping of wing by ailerons.
Klemm L 25IW: Version seaplane.
Klemm L 25EI: Single-seater of race to engine Argus Ace 8 built in 1930 with a reduced scale.
Klemm L 25EIb: Single-seater of race to engine Argus Ace 8 with standard aerofoil.

Klemm L 25a : Some apparatuses F7502 engine.

Klemm L 25aI: Appeared in 1929 with an engine Salmson 9Ad, it is the most widespread version, which was distinguished in many sporting events: April 11th, 1930 Margarete Fusbahn on increased the record of altitude of the category to 4614 meters and on September 4th following a record of non-stop flight (37 hours 55 minutes) was established. Meanwhile, on July 24th, 1930, Wolf Hirth of Berlin - Staaken on board of for a crossing of the Atlantic took off. After several stopovers it reached the Iceland on August 1st, but was to give up because of the bad weather. Elly Beinhorn left Berlin - Tempelhof on January 4th, 1931 for the East Africa, but had to carry out an emergency landing with Tombouctou because of a problem of engine which caused the destruction of the plane. Another L 25aI was equipped with a cabin closed to take part in one of the forwardings left to research Nobile.
Klemm L 25aIV: Equip with a Armstrong-Siddeley Genet, a specimen was engaged in the International Challenge of Tourism in 1930.
Klemm L 25aV: Some specimens of race accepted a Argus As8.
Klemm L 25aVI: Model been driven by an engine BMW X.

Klemm L 25b : Appeared in 1931 with an engine Mercedes F5702a, it is the model to have known the greatest number of remotorisations.

Klemm L 25bI: Engine Salmson 9Ad.
Klemm L 25bIV: Engine Armstrong-Siddeley Broom.
Klemm L 25bVI: Engine BMW X.
Klemm L 25bVII: Engine Hirth HM60.

Klemm L 25bfVII: Reduced scale and modified fuselage.

Klemm L 25bVIIR: Engine Hirth HM 60R.

Klemm L 25bfVIIR: Reduced scale and modified fuselage.

Klemm L 25bXI: Engine Pobjoy R.

Klemm L 25c : Appeared into 1931/1932 with a fuselage and a modified gear landing and an increased tank.

Klemm L 25cVI: Engine BMX Xa.
Klemm L 25cVII: Engine Hirth HM60.
Klemm L 25cVIIR: Engine HM60-R1.
Klemm L 25cXI: Engine Pobjoy R.

Klemm L 25cfXI: Reduced scale.

Klemm L 25d : New series appeared in 1933.

Klemm L 25dII: Engine Siemens HS 13a.
Klemm L 25dVII: Engine Hirth HM60.
Klemm L 25dVIIR: Engine Hirth HM60-R2. This model was distinguished in various sporting events between 1933 and 1936.

Klemm L 25e : Last two-seater model, product as from 1934 in only one version.

Klemm L 25eVIIR: Engine Hirth HM 60R- 2.

Klemm VL 25 : Three-seater version produced as from 1928.

Klemm VL 25I: Engine Salmson 9Ad.
Klemm VL 25aI : Engine Salmson 9Ad.
Klemm VL 25aII : Engine Siemens Sh13a.
Klemm VL 25aV: Engine Argus As8.
Klemm VL 25cVII : Engine Hirth HM60.
Klemm VL 25cVIIR : Engine HM 60R- 2.

Aeromarine-Klemm

In 1927 the Klemm L 25 was introduced on the US market by Boland Aeroplace Co , subsidiary of the especially formed company Aeromarine with Newark, New Jersey. Some specimens with engine Salmson 9Ad were imported of Germany, but a license of production was quickly bought and the company Aeromarine-Klemm formed to produce under license the L 25 .

Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-25 : An about sixty built apparatuses with Keyport with engine Salmson 9Ad of 40 ch. Vendu 3.350 U$ in 1928, the apparatus could be modified in the seaplane with two floats EDO. Certain standard appliances were produced like AKL-25A with an increased tank and some specimens modified thereafter in AKL-26A.
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-26 : Ten apparatuses built into 1929/1930 with an engine LeBlond 5D of 65 ch.

Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-26A : Similar to prédécent, but with tank fuel increased, passable distance passing from 525 to 775 km. Approximately 40 built specimens, of which at least one remotorized with a Armstrong-Siddeley Broom of 80 ch.
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-26B : In 1930 this model remotorized with a LeBlond 5DF left 875 ch. Au minus 14 built specimens, including 2 modified in AKL-27 . This apparatus is also known under designation Aeromarine 85 Flyer (has not to confuse with the Aeromarine 85).
Aeromarine-Klemm Special AKL-26X : A AKL-26 remotorized with a Velie M-5 of 65 ch in 1932.
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-60: 3 AKL-60 modified in 1930 and NC122H/123H.

Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-27 : 2 AKL-26B NR863W remotorized with a LeBlond 7DF of 110 ch.
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-70: Model suggested in 1929 with a LeBlond 5th of 70 ch. En 1931 Aeromarine Planes & Motor Co will try to start again this model like Aeromarine 70 Trainer with the unit price of 2.500 U$.
Keane HKL-27 : Into full Grande Depression Horace Keane and N.W.Dalton tried to sell this model been driven by an engine of car Ford V-8 of 82 ch, which brought back the price of the two-seater with 1.800 U$. 5 specimens only were built.

British Klemm L-25C and derived

British Klemm L-25C : In 1932 G.H. Handasyde bought a license of the Klemm L 25c which he intended to market in Great Britain. The British Klemm Airplane Co Ltd was formed with Hansworth in February 1933 to build in series the German two-seater with an engine Pobjoy R of 90 ch. L' evolution of the international situation was to result in renaming the company British Aircraft Manufacturing Co Ltd in 1935. At the beginning of the Second world war RAF requisitioned 4 British Klemm L-25C .
British Klemm Swallow : Two-seater of tourism derived from the Klemm L 25e whose first flight was carried out in November 1933. This monoplane with low wing in Overhang and traditional train fixes was built with 28 specimens.
British Aircraft Manufacturing Swallow II: 107 apparatuses built by British Aircraft Manufacturing. 9 specimens were requisitioned by RAF into 1940/41 and were used like sailplanes by RAE for tests of towing, up to 4 Swallow being tractor drawn by Handley Page Heyford or Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. Swallow II was also bought on the civil market with Ceylon and was used by the Navy for the connections with (… serial?).

Surviving specimens

About fifteen Klemm L 25 are still visible today:

L 25a (c/n 137), ex OH-ABA, K-SABA, preserved at the Aeronautical Museum of Helsinki, Finland.
L 25b (c/n 138), ex TS-ABB, EZ-AAB, F-PCDA, pertaining to the Museum of the Transport and the Techniques of Berlin, exposed in the terminal of the airport of Berlin - Tempelhof.
L 25Ia (c/n 145), pertaining to a private individual of Kilkerran, Great Britain. * L 25aVI (c/n 149), ex D-EFAR, with the BMW Museum of Munich.
L 25Ia (c/n 152), currently in Germany, ex G-AAHW, D-ELFK, preserved in-flight status at the flying Museum (Fliegendes Museum) of Josef Koch at Grossenhain, close to Dresden.
L 25Ia (c/n 182), whose fuselage is preserved by the Friends of Biggin Hill, Great Britain.
L 25bI (c/n 277), ex CH-272, HB-EFU, D-ENAF, exposed to the Museum of the Air of Madrid, Spain.
L 25dVIIR (c/n 772), ex LX-SAF, LX-ACA, which seems to sell at the beginning of 2007.
L 25dII (c/n 796), ex HB-XAL, always in, property in-flight status of Wiseman' S Ferry, Sydney, Australia.
L 25dVIIR (c/n 798), pertaining to the town of Böblingen.
L 25eVIIR (c/n 847), ex D-ESUX, with Reykjavik, Iceland, property of a private individual.
L 25eVII (c/n 980), ex SE-ANF, with the Deutsches Museum of Munich.
L 25dVIIR (c/n 1129), always in-flight status to Turku, Finland, property of a private individual.
L 25d (c/n 1230), in the course of restoration by a private individual with Pihtipudas, Finland.
British Klemm L-25C, preserved at Bexhill-one-Sea, Great Britain.
Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-25, in the collections of Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, New York, the United States.
Finally of the elements of a L 25 preserved in the reserves of the Aeronautical National museum of Santiago, Chile.

Random links: