This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(February 2024)
Albatros designers Robert Thelen, Schubert and Gnädig produced the D.II in response to pilot complaints about poor upward vision in the Albatros D.I. The solution was to reposition the upper wing 36 cm (14 in) closer to the fuselage and stagger it forward slightly. Rearrangement of the cabane struts also improved forward view. The D.II otherwise retained the same fuselage, engine installation and armament as the D.I.[1] Basic performance was unchanged. The Idflieg (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen - Inspectorate of Flying Troops), ordered an initial batch of 100 D.II aircraft in August 1916.
In November 1916, Idflieg banned Windhoff "ear" radiators in operational aircraft because they were at a lower level than the crankcase of the engine they were cooling, and a shot into either radiator was likely to drain the cooling system. Late production D.IIs switched to using a Teves und Braun "airfoil shape" radiator in the centre section of the upper wing. This also proved to be problematic as a leaking or battle damaged radiator could scald the pilot's face. On later Albatros fighters (late models of the D.III, and the D.V) the radiator was moved to the right of the centre section to alleviate this problem.
Oeffag (Oesterreichische Flugzeugfabrik AG) also built the D.II under license, as the Albatros D.II (Oef) / Oeffag Va.53 / Oeffag series 53, for the Luftfahrtruppen. The 16 Austro-Hungarian machines used a 138 kW (185 hp) Austro-Daimler engine, and were fitted with a Teves und Braun-style wing mounted radiator.
Albatros built 200 D.II aircraft. LVG (Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft) produced another 75 under license. Service numbers peaked in January 1917, when 214 machines were in service. The D.II operated well into 1917. As late as 30 June 1917, 72 aircraft were in the frontline inventory, and even in November 11 D.IIs and 9 D.Is were still in service, alongside the by now far more numerous D.IIIs and D.Vs.[2]
Manfred von Richthofen was flying an Albatros D.II on 23 November 1916 when he was engaged in a prolonged dogfight with the RFC's Lanoe Hawker, VC. Hawker's DH.2 pusher engined fighter had a better turning circle but the Albatros D.II had twin guns, was faster, and could maintain height in a turn better. After firing some 900 rounds von Richthofen shot Hawker in the head and killed him for his 11th victory.[3] Hawker's machine crashed and von Richthofen claimed Hawker's Lewis gun for his growing collection of trophies.
^Grosz, Peter M.; Haddow, George; Scheiner, Peter (2002) [1993]. Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. Boulder: Flying Machine Press. pp. 245–248. ISBN1-891268-05-8.
Bibliographyedit
Cheesman, E.F. (1960). Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Harleyford Publications.
Grey & Thetford (1962–70). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). Putnam & Company.
Grosz, Peter M. "The Agile & Aggressive Albatros". Air Enthusiast Quarterly, No. 1, n.d., pp. 36–51. ISSN 0143-5450
Hofling, Rudolf (2002). Albatross D-II Germany's Legendary World War I Fighter. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publications.
January 01, 1970
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This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article February 2024 The Albatros D II was a German fighter aircraft used during World War I After a successful combat career in the early Jagdstaffeln it was gradually superseded by the Albatros D III Albatros D II Role Fighter Manufacturer Albatros Flugzeugwerke Designer Robert Thelen Introduction 1916 Primary users LuftstreitkrafteLuftfahrtruppen Number built 291 Developed from Albatros D I Developed into Albatros D III Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications D II Oef series 53 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 BibliographyDesign and development editAlbatros designers Robert Thelen Schubert and Gnadig produced the D II in response to pilot complaints about poor upward vision in the Albatros D I The solution was to reposition the upper wing 36 cm 14 in closer to the fuselage and stagger it forward slightly Rearrangement of the cabane struts also improved forward view The D II otherwise retained the same fuselage engine installation and armament as the D I 1 Basic performance was unchanged The Idflieg Inspektion der Fliegertruppen Inspectorate of Flying Troops ordered an initial batch of 100 D II aircraft in August 1916 In November 1916 Idflieg banned Windhoff ear radiators in operational aircraft because they were at a lower level than the crankcase of the engine they were cooling and a shot into either radiator was likely to drain the cooling system Late production D IIs switched to using a Teves und Braun airfoil shape radiator in the centre section of the upper wing This also proved to be problematic as a leaking or battle damaged radiator could scald the pilot s face On later Albatros fighters late models of the D III and the D V the radiator was moved to the right of the centre section to alleviate this problem Oeffag Oesterreichische Flugzeugfabrik AG also built the D II under license as the Albatros D II Oef Oeffag Va 53 Oeffag series 53 for the Luftfahrtruppen The 16 Austro Hungarian machines used a 138 kW 185 hp Austro Daimler engine and were fitted with a Teves und Braun style wing mounted radiator Operational history editD IIs formed part of the early equipment of Jagdstaffel Jasta 2 the first specialized fighter squadron in the German air service Famous pilots included Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke Jasta 2 s first commander and Manfred von Richthofen With its high speed and heavy armament the D II won back air superiority from Allied fighter types such as the Airco DH 2 and Nieuport 17 Albatros built 200 D II aircraft LVG Luft Verkehrs Gesellschaft produced another 75 under license Service numbers peaked in January 1917 when 214 machines were in service The D II operated well into 1917 As late as 30 June 1917 72 aircraft were in the frontline inventory and even in November 11 D IIs and 9 D Is were still in service alongside the by now far more numerous D IIIs and D Vs 2 Manfred von Richthofen was flying an Albatros D II on 23 November 1916 when he was engaged in a prolonged dogfight with the RFC s Lanoe Hawker VC Hawker s DH 2 pusher engined fighter had a better turning circle but the Albatros D II had twin guns was faster and could maintain height in a turn better After firing some 900 rounds von Richthofen shot Hawker in the head and killed him for his 11th victory 3 Hawker s machine crashed and von Richthofen claimed Hawker s Lewis gun for his growing collection of trophies Operators edit nbsp Austria Hungary Austro Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops nbsp German Empire Luftstreitkrafte nbsp Poland Polish Air Force operated this type postwar nbsp Turkey Ottoman Air ForceSpecifications D II Oef series 53 editData from Austro Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One 4 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 7 35 m 24 ft 1 in Upper wingspan 8 5 m 27 ft 11 in Lower wingspan 8 m 26 ft 3 in Height 2 71 m 8 ft 11 in Wing area 24 m2 260 sq ft Gross weight 898 kg 1 980 lb Powerplant 1 Austro Daimler 185hp 6 cylinder water cooled in line piston engine 138 kW 185 hp Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch wooden propeller Performance Maximum speed 170 km h 110 mph 92 kn Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 300 ft in 4 minutes 30 seconds 2 000 m 6 600 ft in 7 minutes 3 000 m 9 800 ft in 12 minutes 30 seconds Wing loading 37 5 kg m2 7 7 lb sq ft Power mass 0 20 hp kg Armament Guns 2 8 mm 0 315 in Schwarzlose machine gunsSee also editRelated development Albatros D I Albatros D III Albatros D IV Albatros D V Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Halberstadt D II Nieuport 16 Nieuport 17 Related lists List of military aircraft of Germany List of fighter aircraftReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albatros D II Notes edit Gray and Thetford P 41 Gray and Thetford P 43 Franks Bailey amp Guest Above The Trenches Grub Street 1993 pages 242 255 Grosz Peter M Haddow George Scheiner Peter 2002 1993 Austro Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One Boulder Flying Machine Press pp 245 248 ISBN 1 891268 05 8 Bibliography edit Cheesman E F 1960 Fighter Aircraft of the 1914 1918 War Harleyford Publications Grey amp Thetford 1962 70 German Aircraft of the First World War 2nd ed Putnam amp Company Grosz Peter M The Agile amp Aggressive Albatros Air Enthusiast Quarterly No 1 n d pp 36 51 ISSN 0143 5450 Hofling Rudolf 2002 Albatross D II Germany s Legendary World War I Fighter Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Publications Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albatros D II amp oldid 1209029331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
