aviatik

This is not an Albatros. It is from another manufacturer and was not a production aircraft, but rather a prototype.

Aviatik IMG Any idea who the manufacturer is? Thanks!

It is an Aviatik C.IX. This text is taken from Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German aircraft of then first world war Aviatik C IX Three prototypes were constructed during 1918 (6306/18-6308/18) and differed mainly in the shape of the tail surfaces. One aircraft had ailerons on the top wing only; the other had ailerons at all four wingtips. Airframe 6307/18 was tested to destruction at Adlershof over the period 13th to 18th June 1918. Engine, 200 h.p. Benz IV. Weights: Empty, 980 kg. (2.156 lb.). Loaded, 1,340 kg. (2,948 lb.). Speed, 160 km.hr. (100 m.p.h.). Ceiling, 4,500 m. (14.760 ft.). Armament, one Spandau and one Parabellum machine-gun.

This an Austro-Hungarian design of the firm Oesterreichisch-Ungarische Flugzeugfabrik "Aviatik", which had no connection to the German Aviatik aircraft firm. This heavy four-engined bomber remained a prototype only and was never given the identification G.I, as this was a German identification for bomber aircraft not used by the A-H forces. Aviation historians identify this designs with the serial number allotted by the A-H forces, in this case than Aviatik 30.17. A second machine was also built (30.18) which differed as ailerons were also fitted to the lower wing.

Wrongly identified on this period card as an Aviator biplane. In fact it is a captured D.F.W. B.I on an exposition of captured German war material held during 1915 in the Musee de l'Armée at the Dôme des Invalides in Paris. I have by the way same card in my collection. Look at