The Friedrichshafen FF.60 was a German prototype long-range maritime patrolfloatplane developed during World War I by the Friedrichshafen Aircraft Company (Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen) for the Naval Air Service of the Imperial German Navy (Marine-Fliegerabteilung of the Kaiserliche Marine). It was a four-engined triplane with a crew of four men. Three aircraft were ordered in 1918, but only one is known to have been completed as the war ended in November.
By late 1916, the vulnerability of the Zeppelins on reconnaissance missions over the North Sea had been recognized by the Naval Air Service and Rear Admiral (Konteradmiral) Otto Philipp, commander of the Naval Air Service, outlined requirements for three types of multi-engine seaplanes to replace the Zeppelins. The highest priority was for a four-engine maritime patrol aircraft with an endurance of 10–12 hours, capable of maintaining altitude on two engines, in a memorandum on 26 December. Philipp clarified on 10 February 1917 that the reconnaissance aircraft's tasks would be mine spotting, anti-submarine duties, and shipping control.[1] The Naval Air Service placed an order for two aircraft in February 1918 and ordered another one in June to compare them with the very large floatplanes like the Zeppelin-Staaken L and the Gotha WD.27.[2][3][4]
Despite its unusual triplane configuration, the FF.60 was built in the company's usual fashion from wire-braced wood covered by doped fabric. The cockpit was underneath the middle wing. The dorsal gunner's position was behind the wings and another position was located in the nose. The biplane tail structure consisted of two horizontal stabilizers and multiple vertical stabilizers fitted with rudders forming a box shape. The triplane was intended to handle waves up to sea state 4 so its two floats were connected to the fuselage and lower wing by 16 struts. The aircraft was armed with three 7.92mm (0.312in)Parabellum MG14 machine guns and it could carry a bomb load of 1,000kg (2,205lb). It was powered by four uncowled170-metric-horsepower (130kW)Mercedes D.IIIa engines; one pair was on the lower wing and the other on the middle wing.[5][6]
Only one aircraft is known to have been completed as there is photographic evidence performing its taxiing trials. It made its first flight in November 1918, the month the war ended. The status of the other two prototypes ordered is unknown.[7][5] When the Allies inspected the German seaplane bases in December 1918, they recorded four FF.60s at Norderney, although the serial numbers match those allocated to Friedrichshafen FF.33Js.[8][2]
Andersson, Lennart & Sanger, Ray (2014). Retribution and Recovery: German Aircraft and Aviation 1919 to 1922. Staplefield, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN978-0-85130-467-0.
Borzutzki, Siegfried (1993). Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH: Diplom-Ingenieur Theodor Kober[Friedrichshafen Aircraft Company: Diploma-Engineer Theodore Kober] (in German). Berlin: Burbach. ISBN3-927513-60-1.
Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen (1987) [1970]. German Aircraft of the First World War (2nded.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-809-7.
Haddow, George William & Grosz, Peter Michael (1988) [1962]. The German Giants: The German R-Planes 1914 – 1918 (3rded.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-812-7.
Herris, Jack (2016). Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol.21. Charleston, South Carolina: Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-35-3.
Nowarra, Heinz J.; Robertson, Bruce & Cooksley, Peter G. (1966). Marine Aircraft of the 1914–1918 War. Letchworth: Harleyford Publications. OCLC123198808.
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