Albatros D.V
Albatros · Germany · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Albatros D.V was a German fighter and the last Albatros fighter to see operational service with the Luftstreitkräfte in the First World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Elliptical cross-section fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Elliptical cross-section fuselage
- Sesquiplane wing arrangement similar to the Nieuport 11
- Large spinner and ventral fin
A sesquiplane fighter with a smooth elliptical fuselage, a Mercedes D.III engine, a large spinner and a ventral fin.
Specifications
- The Albatros D.V has a length of 7.33 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.05 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 186 km/h (116 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was developed from the D.III in early 1917, led by Robert Thelen, and the prototype flew late in April 1917. The main change was a new elliptical cross-section fuselage, 32 kg lighter than the earlier flat-sided one.
Variants
The D.Va had stronger wing spars, ribs and fuselage. About 900 D.V and 1,612 D.Va were built.
Where you'll see it
It entered service in May 1917, but the lower wing suffered structural failures and pilots preferred the D.III. Von Richthofen was strongly critical of it. The Polish and Ottoman air forces also operated the type.
Related aircraft
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