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The Albatros C.I was the first of the successful C-series of two-seat general-purpose biplanes built by Albatros Flugzeugwerke during the First World War. Based on the unarmed Albatros B.II, the C.I reversed the pilot and observer seating so that the observer occupied the rear cockpit which was fitted with a ring-mounted 7,92 mm Parabellum machine gun.

[edit] Design and development

When the C.I first appeared in early 1915, its good handling and powerful 150-hp Benz Bz.III engine gave it an edge over most Allied aircraft. During development of the type, successively more powerful engines were fitted, culminating in the 180hp Argus As III which allowed the final version of the C.Ia to achieve 87mph at sea level with an operational ceiling of 9840 feet.^[2] A dual-control variant, designated the C.Ib, was built as a trainer aircraft by Mercur Flugzeugbau. Improvements to the C.I resulted in the Albatros C.III which became the most prolific of the Albatros C-types.

[edit] Operational history

While the C.I was operated mainly in a reconnaissance and observation role, it also had some success as an early fighter aircraft - Oswald Boelcke claimed his first victory while flying a C.I with Lt. von Wühlisch as the gunner. Germany's most famous First World War aviator, Manfred von Richthofen, also began his career as an observer in the C.I on the Eastern Front.

[edit] Variants

C.I

Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. First production version.

C.Ia

Improved version powered by more powerful Argus As III engine.

C.Ib

Dual-control training version built by Mercur Flugzeugbau.

C.I-V

Experimenal aircraft. One built.

[edit] Operators

Template:Country data German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

Template:Country data Lithuania

• Lithuanian Air Force operated this type postwar.

Template:POL

• Polish Air Force operated 49 aircraft postwar.

[edit] Specifications (C.I)

This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

[edit] General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and observer
• Length: 7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 12.9 m (42 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 4 in)
• Loaded weight: 1,190 kg (2,620 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Benz Bz.III liquid-cooled inline engine, 112 kW (150 hp)

[edit] Performance

• Maximum speed: 140 km/h (76 knots, 87 mph)
• Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
• Endurance: 2½ hrs

[edit] Armament

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Profile of the plane on page of the Polish Aviation Museum

[edit] See also

[edit] Related development

Albatros B.II - Albatros C.III

[edit] Comparable aircraft

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 - Rumpler C.I

[edit] Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany

Template:Idflieg C-class designations Template:Swedish advanced trainer aircraft

fr:Albatros C.I pl:Albatros C.I