Siemens-Schuckert R.VII

Siemens-Schuckert · Germany · first flew 1917 · bomber

The Siemens-Schuckert R.VII was the final and largest mark of the Siemens-Schuckert Riesenflugzeug programme, reaching 38.44 m wingspan and 18.5 m length. It represented the culmination of the company's giant bomber development effort in the closing years of the First World War.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	3 × piston, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	Three-engine biplane strategic bomber from 1917 with engines inside the fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Largest Siemens-Schuckert Riesenflugzeug at 38.44 m wingspan
Three-engine biplane strategic bomber from 1917 with engines inside the fuselage
Elongated fuselage of 18.5 m with tractor-pusher propeller arrangement

The largest of the Siemens-Schuckert R-series at 38.44 m wingspan and 18.5 m fuselage; its slightly longer and wider silhouette distinguishes it from the R.IV at close comparison.

Specifications

The Siemens-Schuckert R.VII has a length of 18.5 m (61 ft).
It has a wingspan of 38.44 m (126 ft).
Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
Typical crew: 7–9.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Completed in 1917, the R.VII pushed the Siemens-Schuckert design to its limits with the widest wingspan and longest fuselage of the series. Like all R-types it was built in tiny numbers, and the war's end in 1918 terminated any further development or production plans.

Variants

The R.VII was the terminal mark of the Siemens-Schuckert R-series; no sub-variants were produced.

Where you'll see it

The R.VII barely entered operational service before the Armistice; it remains primarily a technical milestone rather than an operationally significant aircraft.

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