Linke-Hofmann R.I
Linke-Hofmann · Germany · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Linke-Hofmann R.I was a German heavy bomber of World War I. Only four were built and the type never saw service with the Imperial German Air Service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tall fuselage that fills the gap between the widely separated biplane wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tall fuselage that fills the gap between the widely separated biplane wings
- Four engines housed inside the fuselage, driving two tractor propellers mounted between the wings
- Very large wingspan of over 33 m for a World War I bomber
The fuselage is tall enough to fill the gap between the two wings. Four Mercedes D.IVa engines sit inside it and drive two tractor propellers mounted between the wings.
Specifications
- The Linke-Hofmann R.I has a length of 15.6 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 33.2 m (109 ft).
- Typical crew: 6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Linke-Hofmann, principally a manufacturer of railway rolling stock, designed the fuselage to fill the interplane gap of the widely separated biplane wings after wind tunnel data from Gottingen suggested advantages. Flight testing of the first aircraft began in the spring of 1917 and was not satisfactory.
Variants
Four R.I aircraft were built. The first was covered in transparent Cellon, which reflected sunlight and yellowed quickly, and the second was covered in lozenge camouflage fabric.
Where you'll see it
The type never entered service. The first aircraft crashed when its wings collapsed at low altitude, and the second was badly damaged when it nosed over on landing and was not repaired.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.