Editing Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (section)

==Design==
[[File:Fieseler Fi156.jpg|thumb|right|Fi 156 in flight]]
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a high-wing [[monoplane]] that was particularly effective in terms of its short take off and landing ("[[STOL]]") performance. Its nickname of ''[[Stork|Storch]]'' was derived from the lengthy legs of its main [[landing gear]], which hung down during flight and gave the aircraft the appearance of a long-legged, big-winged bird. As a product of its relatively low landing speed, the ''Storch'' often gave the appearance of landing vertically, or even backwards, when flying directly into strong winds.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} The aircraft was typically crewed by three personnel seated with its enclosed cabin, which was extensively glazed as to provide generous external views.<ref name = "smithkay 1423">Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 142-143.</ref> The structure was composed of welded [[steel]] tubing while the covering was [[fabric]]. Both the tail unit and wings were composed of wood, the latter being clad in [[plywood]].<ref name = "smithkay 143">Smith and Kay 1972, p. 143.</ref>

The Fi 156 had relatively lengthy wings for its size. A fixed [[Leading-edge slats|slat]] ran along the entire length of the wing's [[leading edge]] while a hinged and slotted set of control surfaces ran along the entire length of [[trailing edge]]. This arrangement was allegedly inspired by an earlier [[Junkers]] wing design concept, referred to as a ''Doppelflügel'' or "double-wing" aircraft wing control surface.{{CN|date=February 2024}} On the Fi 156, this setup along each wing panel's trailing edge was split nearly 50/50 between the inboard-located [[Flap (aeronautics)|flaps]] and outboard-located [[aileron]]s, which, in turn, included [[trim tab]] devices over half of each aileron's trailing edge length. This combination of flaps and slats has been heavily attributed for the aircraft's favourable STOL performance.<ref name = "smithkay 145">Smith and Kay 1972, p. 145.</ref>

An uncommon feature for land-based aircraft was the ability to [[folding wing|fold back]] the wings of the aircraft along the fuselage, which was somewhat similar to the wings of the [[Royal Navy|Royal Navy's]] [[Fairey Swordfish]] [[torpedo bomber]]; when folded, the aircraft could be carried on a trailer or even directly towed (albeit slowly) behind a vehicle. The primary hinge for the folding wing was located in the [[wing root]], where the rear wing spar met the cabin.

The long legs of the main [[landing gear]] was furnished with both oil and spring-based [[shock absorber]]s that had a travel of 40&nbsp;cm (15-3/4&nbsp;inches), sufficient to permit landings to be conducted on comparatively rough and uneven surfaces; this was combined with a "pre-travel" distance of 20&nbsp;cm, before the [[Oleo strut|oleos]] began damping the landing gear shock.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sengfelder |first=Günther |date=1993 |title=German Aircraft Landing Gear |location=Atglen, PA, USA |publisher=Schiffer Publishing |page=84 |isbn=0-88740-470-7 |quote=(Photo caption) The long shock absorber leg of the Fi 156 with its streamlined fairing. 200 mm of idle stroke was available in addition to the 400 mm stroke of the shock absorber.}}</ref>

While initial models were unarmed, starting with the C-2 variant, the Fi 156 was fitted with a raised, fully-glazed position for a flexible rear-firing [[MG 15]] [[7.92×57mm Mauser|7.92mm]] machine gun for self-defense.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Fieseler Fi 156 - Overview |url = http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_fieseler_fi_156.html |access-date = 20 August 2020 |website = historyofwar.org}}</ref><ref name = "smithkay 145"/>