Albatros D.II
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| Albatros D.II | |
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| Type | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Albatros Flugzeugwerke |
| Designed by | Robert Thelen |
| Introduced | 1916 |
| Primary users | Luftstreitkräfte Luftfahrtruppen |
The Albatros D.II was a German fighter aircraft used during the First World War. After a successful combat career, it was succeeded by the Albatros D.III.
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[edit] Design and development
Albatros designers Thelen, Schubert and Gnädig produced the D.II in response to pilot complaints about poor upward vision in the Albatros D.I. The solution was to reposition the upper wing 14 in (36 cm) closer to the fuselage and stagger it forward slightly. Rearrangement of the cabane struts also improved forward view. The D.II otherwise retained the same fuselage, engine installation, and armament as the D.I. Basic performance was unchanged. Idflieg ordered an initial batch of 100 D.II aircraft in August 1916.
In November 1916, Idflieg banned Windhoff "ear" radiators in operational aircraft. This was due to the fact that the WIndhoff radiators were at a lower level than the crankcase of the engine they were cooling, and a shot into either radiator would likely drain the cooling system of coolant-resulting in engine failure. Late production D.IIs switched to using a Teves und Braun "airfoil shape" radiator (the Teves company still exists in the 21st century) in the center section of the upper wing.
[edit] Operational history
D.IIs formed part of the initial equipment of Jagdstaffel 2 (Jasta 2), the first specialized fighter squadron in the German air service. Famous pilots included Oswald Boelcke and Manfred von Richthofen. With its high speed and heavy armament, the D.II won back air superiority from Allied fighter types such as the Airco DH.2 and Nieuport 11.
Albatros built 200 D.II aircraft. LVG (Luft-Verkehrs-Geselleschaft) produced another 75 under license. Service numbers peaked in January 1917, when 214 machines were in service. The D.II operated well into 1917. As of 30 June 1917, 72 aircraft were in the frontline inventory.
Oeffag (Oesterreichische Flugzeugfabrik AG) also built the D.II under license for the Luftfahrtruppen. The Austrian machines used a 185 hp Austro-Daimler engine. Oeffag produced only 16 examples before production shifted to the Albatros D.III.
[edit] Operators
- Polish Air Force operated this type postwar.
[edit] Specifications (D.II)
General characteristics
- Crew: one (pilot)
- Length: 7.40 m (23 ft 3.5 in)
- Wingspan: 8.50 m (27 ft 11 in)
- Height: 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 24.5 m² (264 ft²)
- Empty weight: 637 kg (1,404 lb)
- Loaded weight: 888 kg (1,958 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder inline engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 175 km/h (95 knots, 110 mph)
- Service ceiling 5,180 m (16,990 ft)
- Rate of climb: 3 m/s (596 ft/min)
- Endurance: 1.5 hours
Armament
- 2 × forward-firing 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 machine guns
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
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