Hansa-Brandenburg L.16
Hansa-Brandenburg · Austria-Hungary · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Hansa-Brandenburg L.16 was an experimental triplane fighter built for the Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops during the First World War. One prototype was ordered in 1917.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Middle wing set slightly above the fuselage on centre I-struts, blocking forward vision |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Equal-span, single-bay triplane wings
- Middle wing set slightly above the fuselage on centre I-struts, blocking forward vision
- Semi-circular cut-out in the upper wing over the cockpit
A single-seat triplane with all three wings of 9 m span. The radiators sat on the centre struts. Wing height is recorded as mid by catalogue convention.
Specifications
- The Hansa-Brandenburg L.16 has a length of 7.17 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 190 km/h (118 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Austro-Hungarian Aviation Arsenal asked for a triplane after the success of the Sopwith Triplane. Static calculations were submitted on 13 August 1917 and the finished aircraft was inspected on 1 December. Its dimensions surprised the inspectors.
Variants
There were no variants: only one prototype was built. Its engine may have been changed to a 185 hp Austro-Daimler 6 later.
Where you'll see it
It was not ordered into production. It was flight tested only sporadically and stored at Aspern airfield until the war ended in November 1918.
Related aircraft
- Hansa-Brandenburg W.11
- Hansa-Brandenburg W.12
- Hansa-Brandenburg W.19
- Hansa-Brandenburg G.I
- AEG D.I
- AEG Dr.I
- Albatros C.XIII
- Albatros D.IX
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