Focke Wulf FW-159 V-2 (Source: Heinkel He-112 in action)

The Focke Wulf company reacted to the 1934 fighter competition with a with a parasol monoplane. This lay-out was based on the companies very successful trainer the FW-56 "Stösser". Like the other contestants the FW-159 was designed around the Jumo 210 engine. The plane had a retractable undercarriage and an enclosed cockpit. The mechanism to retract the undercarriage was very complex and proved a source of much trouble during the tests.

The first prototype, the FW-159 V-1 was ready in the spring of 1935 but on its first flight the undercarriage failed to lower completely and the aircraft was destroyed on the following emergency landing. The V-2 was fitted with a reinforced undercarriage.

Flight characteristics proved good but the climb rate was lower than calculated and the rate of turn was poor.

Compared to the other contestants the FW-159 suffered from high drag and continuing undercarriage problems. This caused it to be quickly rejected in favor of the the others.

Focke Wulf FW-159 V-1 (Source: AJ Press Monografie: Messerschmitt Me-109 Cz. 1)