Caspar U.1
The Caspar U.1 was a German patrol floatplane of the 1920s, designed by Ernst Heinkel and built by Caspar-Werke. It was intended to be disassembled and stored inside a cylindrical container for transport aboard a submarine, from which it could be quickly assembled and launched.
Development
The U.1 was designed to meet a requirement for an aircraft that could be stored inside a cylindrical container long with a diameter of ; this would allow it to be carried aboard a submarine. To reduce the time needed for assembly and launch, it was built as a cantilever biplane, eliminating the need to rig struts and wires during erection. The aircraft was fitted with two single-step floats and powered by a front-mounted Siemens radial piston engine. The pilot sat in an open cockpit positioned behind the upper wing, providing an unobstructed forward view. It was claimed that, during tests, four men were able to remove the U.1 from its container and assemble it in just 1 minute and 3 seconds.Two aircraft were purchased by the United States Navy for evaluation. They were delivered to Naval Air Station Anacostia in late 1922 and tested during 1923. One of the aircraft was damaged beyond repair while mounted on a truck for a parade.