Albatros B.II
Albatros Flugzeugwerke · German Empire · first flew 1914 · fighter
The Albatros B.II was a German two-seat reconnaissance biplane that served with the Imperial German Air Service at the outbreak of World War I. It was one of the standard unarmed observation types used in the early months of the war.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Rounded fuselage cross-section, no armament initially |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early WWI German two-seat reconnaissance biplane
- Tractor engine, unequal-span biplane, open cockpits
- Rounded fuselage cross-section, no armament initially
Typical early WWI biplane with rounded fuselage, unequal-span wings with pronounced stagger, a single tractor engine, and the characteristic Albatros plywood-skinned fuselage.
Specifications
- The Albatros B.II has a length of 7.63 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Albatros B.II entered service in 1914 with the Imperial German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte), performing visual reconnaissance and artillery observation duties on the Western Front. Like all B-type (unarmed) German aircraft of the period, it relied on speed rather than armament. It was quickly supplemented and then replaced by armed C-type two-seaters as the air war intensified.
Variants
The B series included the B.I and B.II as the primary unarmed reconnaissance variants; the B.II was slightly improved over its predecessor with a more powerful engine.
Where you'll see it
The Albatros B.II served on the Western and Eastern Fronts from 1914 into 1915, becoming obsolete as armed reconnaissance aircraft entered service.
Related aircraft
- Albatros B.IIa
- Albatros C.I
- Albatros W.1
- Albatros C.III
- Avro 510
- Friedrichshafen FF.17
- Friedrichshafen FF.33
- Martinsyde S.1
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