Albatros B.I
Albatros · Germany · first flew 1913 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Albatros B.I was an early German two-seat reconnaissance biplane, one of Albatros's first military types, entering service just before the First World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.57 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- two-bay biplane wings with straight, unswept planform
- single tractor engine with long exposed exhaust stacks
- open tandem cockpits, unarmed observer position
A two-bay biplane with the observer's cockpit ahead of the pilot's, straight unswept wings and a single tractor engine mark it as an early, unarmed Albatros reconnaissance type.
Specifications
- The Albatros B.I has a length of 8.57 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.48 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 105 km/h (65 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from Albatros's civil touring biplanes, the B.I served as an unarmed observation and artillery-spotting aircraft in the war's opening months, with the observer seated ahead of the pilot for a clear forward view.
Variants
It was quickly succeeded by the improved, far more widely built Albatros B.II, which became one of the most numerous training and reconnaissance types of the war.
Where you'll see it
Used briefly on the Western and Eastern Fronts in 1914 before front-line reconnaissance duties passed to more capable armed types, with survivors relegated to training; it had no UK service.
Related aircraft
- Albatros D.II
- Albatros D.IV
- Albatros W.3
- Albatros C.XII
- Dorand DO.1
- Farman HF.20
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
- Sopwith Tabloid
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