Gotha G.I
Gotha · German Empire · first flew 1915 · bomber
The Gotha G.I was an early German heavy bomber with an unusual layout: its fuselage was mounted on the upper wing rather than between the wings.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fuselage mounted directly on the upper wing, unlike a normal biplane |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fuselage mounted directly on the upper wing, unlike a normal biplane
- Twin engine nacelles set close together on the lower wing
- Large biplane bomber silhouette typical of early Gotha types
The fuselage sitting directly on top of the upper wing, rather than slung between the wings like most biplane bombers, is the clearest identifying feature.
Specifications
- The Gotha G.I has a length of 12.9 m (42 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22 m (72 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed from mid-1914 by Oskar Ursinus, founder of the magazine Flugsport, the G.I mounted its twin engine nacelles close together on the lower wing to reduce the risk of asymmetric thrust if one engine failed. It first flew on 30 January 1915 and about 20 were built, making it an important stepping stone to the later, more famous Gotha G.V bombers that raided London.
Variants
The G.I's twin-engine, biplane-bomber formula was progressively refined through the G.II, G.III, G.IV and G.V.
Where you'll see it
No Gotha G.I survives today; the type is documented through wartime German air service records.
Related aircraft
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