Albatros C.V & C.VII
Albatros C.V
The Albatros C.V was a German military reconnaissance aircraft which saw service during World War I.
Design and development
The C.V was Albatros Flugzeugwerke's first revision of their B- and C-type reconnaissance aircraft since Ernst Heinkel left the firm for Hansa-Brandenburg. While retaining the same basic layout as the Heinkel-designed aircraft, the C.V featured considerably refined streamlining. The forward fuselage was skinned in sheet metal and a neat, rounded spinner covered the propeller boss. Power was provided by the new Mercedes D.IV, a geared eight-cylinder engine.
Operational history
The initial production version, designated C.V/16, suffered from heavy control forces and inadequate engine cooling. Albatros therefore produced the C.V/17 with a new lower wing, as well as balanced ailerons and elevators. The fuselage-mounted radiators were replaced by a single flush radiator in the upper wing.
These changes improved both handling qualities and engine cooling, but the downfall of the C.V was the unreliable Mercedes D.IV engine, which suffered from chronic crankshaft failures. The C.V was therefore replaced in production by the Albatros C.VII.
Variants
- C.V/16 : Original design with radiators on fuselage sides.
- C.V/17 : Revised aircraft with radiator on upper wing, and redesigned lower wing.
Operators
- German Empire : Luftstreitkräfte.
Albatros C.VII
The Albatros C.VII was a revised and re-engined development of the Albatros C.V, which had proved disappointing in service.
Design & development
The C.VII dispensed with the earlier C.V's unreliable Mercedes D.IV and also with the modifications that had been made to accommodate that powerplant, returning to the original C.V/16 design. Refinements were also made to the control surfaces, the overall effect was an aircraft with excellent handling qualities. The C.VII soon made up the bulk of German reconnaissance aircraft, with some 350 in service at one time.
Variants
- C.VI.
- N.I : Night-bomber with increased wingspan variant. Suffered insufficient power from the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engines.So only one prototype was built.
- L 18 : A single C.VII converted for civil use post WWI.
Operators
- German Empire : Luftstreitkräfte.
— — — = = — — —