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Albatros DV History
Designed and made by Albatros-Flugzeugwerke
during WWI for the Luftstreitkräfte (German air force), the Albatros
DV was, at best, an average biplane fighter, resulting in a total production
run of approximately only 2,500 aircraft. Based, in part, on the existing
older Albatros D.III biplane fighter design and engine, the Albatros
DV served from April 1914 until the end of WWI. The DV
was flown as a matter of
necessity rather than choice, and was destined to be the last "D"
series fighter designed, or produced, by Albatros-Flugzeugwerke.
The Albatros DV and the Red
Baron
When initially flown in WW1 by Manfred
von Richthofen, the infamous "Red Baron", he heavily criticised the
new biplane design. Albatros quickly responded by modifying their
existing biplane design to create the Albatros DVa, this model was better but still not good enough. As soon as the
Fokker D.VII entered service it was found to be far superior. Albatros were
instructed to build the rival company's biplane fighter
aircraft rather than build or develop their own biplane fighter designs
for the remainder of WW1!
Various scale
models, model kits and plans of this aircraft have been available
in the market place.
Albatros DVk Biplane Specifications:
Albatros DV Crew: Pilot only
Albatros DV Length: 7.33 m (24 ft 1 in)
Albatros DV Wingspan: 9.04 m (29 ft 8 in)
Albatros DV Height: 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in)
Albatros DV Empty weight: 687 kg (1,515 lb)
Albatros DV Loaded weight: 937 kg (2,066 lb)
Albatros DV Engine: Single 134 kW (180 hp) Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder
water-cooled inline piston engine
Albatros DV Maximum speed: 187 (116 mph)
Albatros DV Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Albatros DV Range: 200 miles
Albatros DVk Biplane Armament:
Guns:
Twin 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15
machine guns
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