Gotha G.VI
Gotha · Germany · first flew 1918 · bomber
The Gotha G.VI was an experimental asymmetric twin-engine bomber of 1918, believed to be the first intentionally asymmetric aircraft ever built, with one engine driving a tractor propeller and the other a pusher set at offset positions to reduce drag interference. Only two were completed before the Armistice.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Asymmetric engine arrangement — one tractor and one pusher offset port and starboard
- Standard Gotha G.V biplane wing cellule reused
- Experimental design with only 2 aircraft built
Appears at first glance as a conventional Gotha G.V biplane, but close inspection reveals the two engine nacelles are positioned at different fore-aft stations on each wing, one driving a tractor and one a pusher propeller.
Specifications
- The Gotha G.VI has a length of 12.4 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.7 m (78 ft).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Gotha developed the G.VI as an aerodynamic experiment to reduce the mutual propeller and nacelle interference drag that affected conventional twin-engine pushers. The staggered engine positions — one forward tractor on the port side, one rear pusher on the starboard — were intended to allow cleaner airflow. Results were inconclusive and the war ended before further development.
Variants
The second aircraft was to have incorporated an asymmetric tail to counteract the asymmetric thrust, but this was not completed before the Armistice.
Where you'll see it
Experimental only; no operational missions recorded.
Related aircraft
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