The Udet U 2 was a small, low-power sport aircraft developed in Gerrmany in the early 1920s as an improved version of the Udet U 1.Taylor 1993, p.873''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft'' 1984, p.3035Bichel 2013, p.31 Unlike its single-seat predecessor, the U 2 was a two-seater. But like its predecessor, it was very underpowered. Out of seven or eight aircraft built, there is no record that a single one sold.

Design

The U 2 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional design.Bichel 2013, p.37 It was powered by a single, piston engine mounted in the nose, driving a two-blade tractor propeller. It had a conventional tail and conventional, tailskid undercarriage. The pilot and a single passenger sat in tandem in an open cockpit. The fuselage was of all-wood construction.Bichel 2013, p.38 The wings were wooden as well, covered in fabric. The tail unit was built from steel tube, and also fabric-covered.

Development

The first U 2 was completed in Deccember 1922, and by the following April, seven examples had been built, with an eighth under construction. These were issued civil registrations ''D-234'' through ''D-241'', although no record exists that any of them were ever sold. Historian Olaf Bichel notes that not a single photo is known of a U 2 with a registration applied to it. He also speculates that some of the airframes might have been used to create the Udet U 3, U 3 and Udet U 4, U 4 designs.

Operational history

By the time that the U 2s were built, it was also apparent that the founding aim of the Udet Flugzeugbau company, selling low-price aircraft to the United States, was unrealistic. Therefore, an invitation for company founder Ernst Udet to compete in the ("Wilbur Wright Cup") in Argentina was timely because it provided an opportunity to promote the company's products in a new market. One U 2 and a U 3 were shipped to South America, arriving on 28 May 1923. They were transported to the at El Palomar, Argentina, El Palomar for assembly. On 10 June, Udet demonstrated both aircraft at San Isidro, Buenos Aires, San Isidro in their first display flights. Five days later, he and friend Max Holtzem flew the two aircraft to Rosario as another demonstration. Udet himself returned to Germany before the was contested. The final fate of the U 2 that was shipped to Argentina is not known.

Specifications

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * {{Udet aircraft 1920s German sport aircraft Udet aircraft Low-wing aircraft Conventional-tail aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Aircraft first flown in 1923