Gotha WD 1
Gotha · Germany · first flew 1914 · light aircraft
The Gotha WD 1 was the first in the Gotha Wasser-Doppeldecker series of German naval biplane seaplanes, entering service with the Imperial German Navy at the outset of World War I. It pioneered Gotha's involvement in maritime patrol aviation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Earliest Gotha Wasser-Doppeldecker naval biplane seaplane
- Twin-float biplane from the outbreak of World War I
- Open cockpit reconnaissance seaplane with strut-braced wings
A simple equal-span biplane with twin floats and an open cockpit; larger wingspan than the WD 5 but otherwise very similar in layout to its successors.
Specifications
- The Gotha WD 1 has a length of 10.35 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.1 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 100 km/h (62 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in 1914 at the start of World War I, the WD 1 was a straightforward twin-float biplane designed to meet the Kaiserliche Marine's need for coastal reconnaissance aircraft. It established the WD design lineage that Gotha refined through the WD 5, WD 9, and WD 15.
Variants
The direct ancestor of the WD 5, WD 9, and WD 15 series; no sub-variants of the WD 1 itself are recorded.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Kaiserliche Marine for coastal reconnaissance from 1914-1915.
Related aircraft
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