DFW R.I
Deutsche Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1916 · bomber
The DFW R.I was a German Riesenflugzeug (giant aircraft) bomber developed during World War I, featuring four engines and a very long wingspan intended for strategic bombing missions.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Four engines inside the fuselage driving outboard propellers through shafts and gearboxes |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- German WWI giant Riesenflugzeug bomber
- Multi-engine biplane with very long span
- Four engines inside the fuselage driving outboard propellers through shafts and gearboxes
Very large biplane bomber with four engines driving pusher or tractor propellers and a prominent crew nacelle; the massive wingspan relative to most WWI aircraft is the key cue.
Specifications
- The DFW R.I has a length of 17.6 m (58 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 30.5 m (100 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Deutsche Flugzeugwerke built the R.I as part of Germany's programme to develop very large multi-engine bombers capable of attacking distant targets. First flown in 1916, it represented a significant engineering effort but the type did not advance beyond limited trials.
Variants
The R.I was a single prototype within the R-plane category; subsequent DFW R-types incorporated lessons learned.
Where you'll see it
The DFW R.I did not enter front-line operational service; it served as a development aircraft for large bomber technology.
Related aircraft
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