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Albatros C.I

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Albatros C.I
Type Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Introduced 1915
Retired 1917[1]
Primary users Luftstreitkräfte
Polish Air Force
Lithuanian Air Force
Developed from Albatros B.II
Variants Albatros C.III

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.

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.

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.

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.

Operators

Template:Country data German Empire
Template:Country data Lithuania
Template:POL

Specifications (C.I)

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:Benz Bz.III liquid-cooled inline engine, 112 kW (150 hp)

Performance

Armament

  • 1 × 7.92 mm Parabellum MG14 machine gun in observer's cockpit

  • References

    1. Cowin, H.W. "German and Austrian Aviation of World War I". Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2000 ISBN 1-841-76069-2
    2. Cowin, H.W. "German and Austrian Aviation of World War I". Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2000 ISBN 1-841-76069-2

    External links

    See also

    Related development
    Albatros B.II - Albatros C.III Comparable aircraft
    Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 - Rumpler C.I

    Related lists

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

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


    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
    It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Albatros C.I".