Hansa-Brandenburg G.I
Hansa-Brandenburg · Austria-Hungary · first flew 1916 · bomber
The Hansa-Brandenburg G.I was an Austro-Hungarian twin-engine biplane bomber of World War I, designed by Ernst Heinkel and notable for mounting its two Austro-Daimler engines on strut structures attached to the fuselage sides rather than in conventional wing nacelles. About 50 were built for the Austro-Hungarian Flying Corps.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Austro-Hungarian WWI twin-engine bomber with engines on fuselage-side strut mounts |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Austro-Hungarian WWI twin-engine bomber with engines on fuselage-side strut mounts
- Three-bay biplane designed by Ernst Heinkel
- About 50 built; unusual side-mounted engine arrangement
A large three-bay biplane with the two engines mounted on strut-braced structures on the sides of the fuselage rather than in underwing nacelles. This distinctive arrangement, with propellers between the fuselage and the lower wing, is the primary recognition feature.
Specifications
- The Hansa-Brandenburg G.I has a length of 9.8 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18 m (59 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 133 km/h (83 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Ernst Heinkel at Hansa-Brandenburg, the G.I entered service in 1916 and was used for bombing operations primarily on the Italian front and in the Eastern Mediterranean. The unusual side-fuselage engine installation was an attempt to simplify structural design, though it created cooling and maintenance challenges. The type served until replaced by more capable bombers in 1917–18.
Variants
No significant production variants.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Austro-Hungarian Flying Corps (k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppen) from 1916 on bombing missions on the Italian front and Adriatic.
Related aircraft
- Hansa-Brandenburg KDW
- Hansa-Brandenburg W.11
- Hansa-Brandenburg W.12
- Hansa-Brandenburg W.19
- AEG G.IV
- AEG R.I
- Airco DH.3
- Airco DH.4
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.