The Hansa-Brandenburg D.I, also known as the KD (Kampf Doppeldecker) was a German fighter aircraft of World War I. Despite poor handling characteristics it was put into service by Austria-Hungary, where some aircraft served until the end of the war.
Ernst Heinkel chief designer of the Hansa und Brandenburgische Flugzeug-Werke developed the KD in 1916 to meet the requirements of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force (Kaiserliche und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen or K.u.K. Luftfahrtruppen). It was a single seat, single engined biplane, of wooden construction, with plywoodfuselage skinning and fabric wing skins. The wings featured an unusual "Star-Strutter" arrangement of interplane struts, where four Vee struts joined in the centre of the wing bay to result in a "star" arrangement. The interplane struts themselves were steel tubes.[1]
The KD had a deep fuselage, which gave a poor forward view for the pilot and tended to blanket the small rudder, giving poor lateral stability and making recovery from spins extremely difficult.[2] Armament was a single Schwarzlosemachine gun, which owing to difficulties in synchronising the Schwarzlose, was fitted in a fairing on the upper wing, firing over the propeller.[3]
Despite these handling problems, the aircraft was ordered by Austro-Hungary as the D.I. A total of 122 D.Is were built, with 50 built by Hansa-Brandenburg in Germany - powered by 110 kW (150 hp) Austro-Daimler engines - while a further 72 were built under license by Phönix in Vienna, powered by 138 kW (185 hp) Austro-Daimler engines. While it was intended that the D.I also be built by Ufag, none were delivered.[4] The KD also formed the basis for the Hansa-Brandenburg KDWfloatplane fighter.
Operational historyedit
The D.I entered service in autumn 1916. Its unusual arrangement of interplane bracing gave rise to the nickname "Spider",[5] while its poor handling gave rise to the less complementary nickname "the Coffin".[6] The D.I was the standard fighter aircraft of the Luftfahrtruppen until mid 1917, being used by several Austro-Hungarian air aces such as Godwin Brumowski and Frank Linke-Crawford.[5] Some Phönix built D.Is remained in use until the end of the war, being used briefly by the armed forces of The Republic of German Austria (Republik Deutschösterreich), where they were used to fight Yugoslav attacks on Klagenfurt in Carinthia.[1][7]
^Silen, Art. IPMS Book Review: Albatros Productions, Ltd Windsock Datafile #118 Hansa Brandenburg D.1[permanent dead link]IPMS USA. Retrieved 2 March 2008
^ abHansa-Brandenburg D.I - The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War I Retrieved 2 March 2008
Angelucci, Enzo (ed.). World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London: Jane's, 1981. ISBN0-7106-0148-4.
Gray, Peter and Thetford, Owen. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962.
Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York: Smithmark, 1994. ISBN0-8317-3939-8.
Hooton, E.R. Phoenix Triumphant: The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe.London: Arms & Armour Press, 1994. ISBN1-85409-181-6.
Meindl, Karl; Schroeder, Walter (1997). Brandenburg D.I. Great War Aircraft in Profile 2. Flying Machines Press. ISBN1891268015.
Williams, Anthony G. and Gustin, Emmanuel. Flying Guns World War I. Ramsbury, Wiltshire: Airlife, 2003. ISBN1-84037-396-2.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hansa-Brandenburg D.I.
IPMS Book Review: Albatros Productions, Ltd Windsock Datafile #118 Hansa Brandenburg D-1[permanent dead link]
March 16, 2024
hansa, brandenburg, also, known, kampf, doppeldecker, german, fighter, aircraft, world, despite, poor, handling, characteristics, into, service, austria, hungary, where, some, aircraft, served, until, irole, fightermanufacturer, hansa, brandenburgdesigner, ern. The Hansa Brandenburg D I also known as the KD Kampf Doppeldecker was a German fighter aircraft of World War I Despite poor handling characteristics it was put into service by Austria Hungary where some aircraft served until the end of the war D IRole FighterManufacturer Hansa BrandenburgDesigner Ernst HeinkelFirst flight 1916Introduction Autumn 1916Primary users Austria HungaryAustriaNumber built 122Variants Hansa Brandenburg KDWPhonix D I Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications D I 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDevelopment and design editErnst Heinkel chief designer of the Hansa und Brandenburgische Flugzeug Werke developed the KD in 1916 to meet the requirements of the Austro Hungarian Air Force Kaiserliche und Konigliche LuftfahrtruppenorK u K Luftfahrtruppen It was a single seat single engined biplane of wooden construction with plywood fuselage skinning and fabric wing skins The wings featured an unusual Star Strutter arrangement of interplane struts where four Vee struts joined in the centre of the wing bay to result in a star arrangement The interplane struts themselves were steel tubes 1 The KD had a deep fuselage which gave a poor forward view for the pilot and tended to blanket the small rudder giving poor lateral stability and making recovery from spins extremely difficult 2 Armament was a single Schwarzlose machine gun which owing to difficulties in synchronising the Schwarzlose was fitted in a fairing on the upper wing firing over the propeller 3 Despite these handling problems the aircraft was ordered by Austro Hungary as the D I A total of 122 D Is were built with 50 built by Hansa Brandenburg in Germany powered by 110 kW 150 hp Austro Daimler engines while a further 72 were built under license by Phonix in Vienna powered by 138 kW 185 hp Austro Daimler engines While it was intended that the D I also be built by Ufag none were delivered 4 The KD also formed the basis for the Hansa Brandenburg KDW floatplane fighter Operational history editThe D I entered service in autumn 1916 Its unusual arrangement of interplane bracing gave rise to the nickname Spider 5 while its poor handling gave rise to the less complementary nickname the Coffin 6 The D I was the standard fighter aircraft of the Luftfahrtruppen until mid 1917 being used by several Austro Hungarian air aces such as Godwin Brumowski and Frank Linke Crawford 5 Some Phonix built D Is remained in use until the end of the war being used briefly by the armed forces of The Republic of German Austria Republik Deutschosterreich where they were used to fight Yugoslav attacks on Klagenfurt in Carinthia 1 7 Operators edit nbsp Austria HungaryKaiserliche und Konigliche Luftfahrtruppen Austro Hungarian Navy nbsp AustriaRepublic of German AustriaSpecifications D I editData from The Complete Book of Fighters 1 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 6 35 m 20 ft 10 in Wingspan 8 5 m 27 ft 11 in Height 2 79 m 9 ft 2 in 8 Wing area 23 95 m2 257 8 sq ft Empty weight 672 kg 1 482 lb Gross weight 920 kg 2 028 lb Powerplant 1 Austro Daimler 185hp 6 cylinder water cooled in line piston engine 138 kW 185 hp Propellers 2 bladed wooden fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 187 km h 116 mph 101 kn Endurance 2 hours 30 minutes Service ceiling 5 000 m 16 000 ft 8 Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 300 ft in 3 minutes Armament 1 8 mm 315 in Schwarzlose machine gunSee also editRelated development Hansa Brandenburg KDW Phonix D IAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Albatros D IReferences editNotes edit a b c Green and Swanborough 1994 p 83 Gray and Thetford 1962 p 64 Williams and Gustin 2003 p 62 Silen Art IPMS Book Review Albatros Productions Ltd Windsock Datafile 118 Hansa Brandenburg D 1 permanent dead link IPMS USA Retrieved 2 March 2008 a b Hansa Brandenburg D I The Aerodrome Aces and Aircraft of World War I Retrieved 2 March 2008 Angelucci 1981 p 54 Hooton 1994 p 25 26 a b Angelucci 1981 p 43 Bibliography edit Angelucci Enzo ed World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft London Jane s 1981 ISBN 0 7106 0148 4 Gray Peter and Thetford Owen German Aircraft of the First World War London Putnam 1962 Green William and Swanborough Gordon The Complete Book of Fighters New York Smithmark 1994 ISBN 0 8317 3939 8 Hooton E R Phoenix Triumphant The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe London Arms amp Armour Press 1994 ISBN 1 85409 181 6 Meindl Karl Schroeder Walter 1997 Brandenburg D I Great War Aircraft in Profile 2 Flying Machines Press ISBN 1891268015 Williams Anthony G and Gustin Emmanuel Flying Guns World War I Ramsbury Wiltshire Airlife 2003 ISBN 1 84037 396 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hansa Brandenburg D I Hansa Brandenburg D I Fighter Aircraft of the LFT IPMS Book Review Albatros Productions Ltd Windsock Datafile 118 Hansa Brandenburg D 1 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hansa Brandenburg D I amp oldid 1194534081, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
