Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: Germany
Type: Biplane, Reconnaissance and Surveillance
Manufacturer: Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Albatros C.I Aircraft Overview
The Albatros C.I was a German reconnaissance aircraft used during World War I. It was designed by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke company and entered service in 1915.
The Albatros C.I was a two-seater biplane with a wooden frame and fabric covering. It was powered by a 150-horsepower Benz Bz.III engine, which gave it a maximum speed of around 80 miles per hour. The plane was armed with one or two machine guns, depending on the version, which were operated by the observer in the rear cockpit.
The Albatros C.I was primarily used for reconnaissance and artillery spotting, but it was also used for ground attack and bombing missions. It was a reliable and versatile aircraft, and it saw service on both the Eastern and Western Fronts.
Later versions of the Albatros C.I, such as the C.III and C.XII, featured improved engines and armament, but the basic design remained largely the same throughout its production run. The Albatros C.I was eventually replaced by more advanced reconnaissance aircraft such as the DFW C.V and the Halberstadt C.V, but it remained in service until the end of the war and was considered a reliable and effective aircraft by its pilots.
Albatros C.I Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 12.9 m (42 ft 4 in)
- Height: 3.14 m (10 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 40.4 m2 (435 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 875 kg (1,929 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,190 kg (2,624 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propeller.
Albatros C.I Performance
- Maximum speed: 132 km/h (82 mph, 71 kn)
- Endurance: 2½ hours
- Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
- Rate of climb: 1.7 m/s (330 ft/min)
Albatros C.I Armament
- Guns: 1 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun in observer’s cockpit.
