Albatros C.I
Albatros Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1915 · fighter
The Albatros C.I was a German two-seat general-purpose biplane that entered service in 1915 as one of the first purpose-designed armed reconnaissance aircraft of World War I. It introduced the characteristic Albatros semi-monocoque plywood fuselage construction.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | WWI German two-seat biplane with rounded plywood fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI German two-seat biplane with rounded plywood fuselage
- Observer in rear cockpit with ring-mounted machine gun
- Equal-span wings with single interplane struts each side
Identified by its smooth oval-section plywood fuselage (unusual for 1915), equal-span biplane wings with I-struts, and inline water-cooled engine with a prominent radiator. The dimensions provided in source data appear corrupted (metres recorded as centimetres) and have been corrected.
Specifications
- The Albatros C.I has a length of 7.69 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.9 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 132 km/h (82 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service with the Imperial German Air Service in 1915, the C.I replaced earlier unarmed two-seaters and was used for artillery spotting, reconnaissance, and light bombing. It was produced in substantial numbers and formed the basis for a successful line of C-type two-seaters. The type was largely withdrawn by 1916 as more capable successors appeared.
Variants
The C.I led directly to the improved C.III and C.V series; the C.Ia featured a more powerful engine. All shared the signature wooden semi-monocoque fuselage.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the Imperial German Air Service and its Austro-Hungarian allies on all fronts during 1915–1916.
Related aircraft
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