The Ago Ao 192 Kurier (Courier) was a small German twin-engined aircraft designed and built by AGO Flugzeugwerke in the 1930s. A small production run of six aircraft followed three prototypes, these being used as transports.
The AGO Flugzeugwerke was re-established at Oschersleben in 1934,[1] with its first design a multi-purpose light-twin-engined aircraft offered against the same requirement for a light aircraft that produced the Gotha Go 146 and Siebel Fh 104.[2]
AGO's design, the Ao 192, was a low-winged cantilevermonoplane of all-metal construction. Its monocoque fuselage accommodated a crew of two pilots who sat side by side in an enclosed flight deck, while there were seats for five passengers in a separate cabin. It was powered by two 179 kW (240 hp) Argus As 10 and had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage.[1]
The first prototype made its maiden flight in mid-1935, soon being followed by a second aircraft, similar to the first. A third prototype, with a deeper fuselage allowing an additional passenger to be carried, more powerful engines and a revised undercarriage, formed the basis for the planned Ao 192B civil transport, with versions planned to serve as light transports, ambulance aircraft and survey aircraft. In addition, a number of military variants were proposed, including a light reconnaissance aircraft and a light bomber.[1]
AGO had large orders for licence-built aircraft for the Luftwaffe however, with much of their wartime work involved with Focke-Wulf, and only six AGO production aircraft could be built.[1]
The six production aircraft were acquired by the German state, with one being used as the personal transport of Dr Robert Ley, the head of the Reichsarbeitdienst (RAD/Reich Labour Service), while others were used as transports by the Waffen-SS and at the Luftwaffe test-centre at Rechlin.[1]
Munson, K. G. (1960). Enemy Aircraft (German and Italian) of World War II. London: Ian Allen. p. 64.
Lucchini, Carlo (April 1999). "Le meeting saharien de 1938" [The 1938 Sahara Air Meeting]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (73): 53–57. ISSN1243-8650.
