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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albatros_C.III

The Albatros C.III was a German two-seat general-purpose biplane of World War I, built by Albatros Flugzeugwerke. The C.III was a refined version of the successful Albatros C.I and was eventually produced in greater numbers than any other C-type Albatros. It was used in a wide variety of roles including observation, photo-reconnaissance, light-bombing and bomber escort.

Design and development

Like its predecessor, the C.III was a popular aircraft with rugged construction and viceless handling. The most prominent difference between the two was the revised tail, the C.III having a lower, rounded tail compared to the large, triangular tail of the C.I, granting the C.III greater agility. The powerplant was either a 110 kW (150 hp) Benz Bz. III or a 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III inline engine and, like numerous other two-seaters of the war (such as the British Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8) the cylinder head and exhaust manifold protruded above the front fuselage, limiting the pilot's forward visibility.

The observer, who occupied the rear cockpit, was armed with 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun. some C.III aircraft were fitted with interrupter gear and a single forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine gun. The C.III could also carry a bombload of up to 90 kg (200 lb) in a small internal bomb bay.

Following the war, a number of copies were built by the Bulgarian state aircraft workshops as the DAR 2 for use as trainers.

Operators

A Turkish C.III

 Finland

• Finnish Air Force

 German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

 Bulgaria

• Bulgarian Air Force operated 18 aircraft.

 Lithuania

• Lithuanian Air Force operated aircraft postwar.

 Poland

• Polish Air Force operated 15 aircraft postwar.
• Ottoman Air Force

Specifications (C.III)

the W.2 derived directly from the C.III

Albatros C.III German World War 1 reconnaissance and training biplane drawing

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 8.0 m (26 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 11.69 m (38 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 36.91 m² (397 ft²)
• Empty weight: 851 kg (1,876 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,353 kg (2,983 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Benz Bz.III, 112 kW (150 hp) or Mercedes D.III liquid-cooled inline engine, 120 kW (160 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 140 km/h (76 kn, 87 mph)
• Service ceiling: 3,350 m (11,000 ft)
• Endurance: 4 hours

Armament

• 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun in observer's cockpit
• Some aircraft with 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 forward-firing machine gun
• Up to 91 kg (200 lb) bombs

See also

Related development Albatros C.I - Albatros C.V
Comparable aircraft Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 - Aviatik C.I - Rumpler C.I

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany
  

External links

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Published in July 2009.

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