Albatros D-series I, II, III, IV, V, Va
by: RLindsey
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Word Count: 193
The German-made Albatros was probably the sleekest fighter plane of World War I. With a torpedo-shaped front and smooth lines all around, it was also the most produced German fighter plane of the war. There were some structural problems with the plane, the most troublesome was the single mounting point for the wing struts on the bottom wing. This allowed the bottom wing to flex, especially in a dive or at high speeds and sharp turns. All of which a fighter pilot needs during a dogfight. Another early problem was the radiator that was mounted under the top wing. Any time one was shot, boiling water came down on the pilot. The “Red Baron” Manfred von Richthofen flew many versions of the Albatros before using the Fokker Dr.I triplane. Of his 80 kills, 48 were in scored in an Albatros: 17 in the D.II; 23 in the D.III; 6 in the D.V; and 2 in the D.Va.
Length: 24 feet 2 inches (7.36 meters)
Wingspan: 29 feet 6 inches (9 meters)
Speed: 109 mph (170 km/h)
Ceiling: 18,045 feet (5,500 meters)
Range:
Engines: 1 175hp Mercedes D.IIIa inline
Crew: 1
Armament: 2x 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine guns
About the Author
Robert M. Lindsey
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