The Gotha G.VIII, GL.VIII, G.IX, and G.X were a family of bomber aircraft produced in Germany during the final months of World War I.[1] Based on the Gotha G.VII, they were intended as high-speed tactical bombers featuring advanced streamlining for their day.[2]
The G.VIII designation was applied to a single machine developed from the G.VII, with a wingspan extended to 21.73 m (71 ft 3 in) and a revised fuselage. A wing cellule was extended by adding an extra half-bay into it. While no further production ensued, the fuselage modifications were retained on the definitive G.IX. This latter design replaced the new half-bays in the wing cellule with full bays, now bringing the span to 25.26 m (82 ft 11 in). The Idflieg ordered 170 G.IXs from Luft Verkehrs Gesellschaft (LVG) to replace the Gotha G.Vs still in front-line service with Boghol 3. Probably around half of this number were completed before the end of the war, with at least some of them reaching operational status by that time. Following the war, captured examples served for a short time with the Belgian Air Force.
GL.VIIIedit
The GL.VIII was a lightweight version of the G.VIII with a compound tail assembly and auxiliary struts supporting the upper mainplane wing-tips.[clarification needed]
G.Xedit
The G.X was a final variant in the series, intended to be powered by the BMW IIIa, a far less powerful engine than the Maybach Mb IVa used in the G.IX and previous designs. This variant may have been intended as a pure reconnaissance or training aircraft, and it is unclear whether any were built before the armistice.
^"Gotha | German aircraft | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
^"Germany's Gotha Heavy Bombers". Warfare History Network. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gotha G.IX.
Herris, Jack (2013). Gotha Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 6. Charleston, South Carolina: Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-14-8.
Metzmacher, Andreas (2021). Gotha Aircraft 1913-1954: From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter. Brimscombe, Stroud: Fonthill. ISBN978-1-78155-706-8.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 427.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 895 Sheet 08.
April 15, 2024
gotha, gotha, viii, viii, were, family, bomber, aircraft, produced, germany, during, final, months, world, based, gotha, they, were, intended, high, speed, tactical, bombers, featuring, advanced, streamlining, their, viii, viii, xrole, bombernational, origin, . The Gotha G VIII GL VIII G IX and G X were a family of bomber aircraft produced in Germany during the final months of World War I 1 Based on the Gotha G VII they were intended as high speed tactical bombers featuring advanced streamlining for their day 2 G VIII GL VIII G IX and G XRole BomberNational origin GermanyManufacturer Gothaer WaggonfabrikFirst flight 1918Primary users LuftstreitkrafteBelgian Air ForceNumber built c 90 mainly G IX Contents 1 G VIII and G IX 2 GL VIII 3 G X 4 Specifications G IX 5 ReferencesG VIII and G IX editThe G VIII designation was applied to a single machine developed from the G VII with a wingspan extended to 21 73 m 71 ft 3 in and a revised fuselage A wing cellule was extended by adding an extra half bay into it While no further production ensued the fuselage modifications were retained on the definitive G IX This latter design replaced the new half bays in the wing cellule with full bays now bringing the span to 25 26 m 82 ft 11 in The Idflieg ordered 170 G IXs from Luft Verkehrs Gesellschaft LVG to replace the Gotha G Vs still in front line service with Boghol 3 Probably around half of this number were completed before the end of the war with at least some of them reaching operational status by that time Following the war captured examples served for a short time with the Belgian Air Force GL VIII editThe GL VIII was a lightweight version of the G VIII with a compound tail assembly and auxiliary struts supporting the upper mainplane wing tips clarification needed G X editThe G X was a final variant in the series intended to be powered by the BMW IIIa a far less powerful engine than the Maybach Mb IVa used in the G IX and previous designs This variant may have been intended as a pure reconnaissance or training aircraft and it is unclear whether any were built before the armistice Specifications G IX editGeneral characteristics Crew Three Length 9 79 m 32 ft 1 in Wingspan 25 26 m 82 ft 11 in Height 3 54 m 11 ft 7 in Powerplant 2 Maybach Mb IVa 180 kW 245 hp eachReferences edit Gotha German aircraft Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 2024 01 24 Germany s Gotha Heavy Bombers Warfare History Network Retrieved 2024 01 24 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gotha G IX Herris Jack 2013 Gotha Aircraft of WWI A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes Great War Aviation Centennial Series Vol 6 Charleston South Carolina Aeronaut Books ISBN 978 1 935881 14 8 Metzmacher Andreas 2021 Gotha Aircraft 1913 1954 From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter Brimscombe Stroud Fonthill ISBN 978 1 78155 706 8 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 427 World Aircraft Information Files London Bright Star Publishing pp File 895 Sheet 08 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gotha G IX amp oldid 1198711425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
