Having built the Steffen R series, Siemens-Schuckert planned to produce a six-engined Riesenflugzeug (giant aeroplane) for the Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Flying Corps). In common with many of the other contemporary R projects, the R.VIII had all six engines inside the fuselage, where they were tended by mechanics, driving two tractor and two pusher propellers mounted between the mainplanes, via leather cone clutches combining gearboxes, shafts and bevel gearboxes. Two aircraft were built but only the first, R23/16, was completed.
Ground trials began in 1919, after the armistice but were interrupted by a gearbox failure which resulted in a propeller breaking up and causing extensive damage. The second airframe, R24/16, was never completed and the first was not repaired after the ground running accident due to the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. At the time of its completion the Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII was the largest aeroplane in the world; (the Mannesman-Poll triplane was to have been much larger but was not completed before the Versailles Treaty came into force).[1]
Specifications (Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII)
Data fromThe German Giants and German aircraft of the First World War.[1][2]
General characteristics
Crew: 6+
Length: 21.6 m (70 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 48 m (157 ft 6 in)
Height: 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 440 m2 (4,700 sq ft)
Empty weight: 10,478 kg (23,100 lb)
Gross weight: 15,867 kg (34,980 lb)
Powerplant: 6 × Basse und Selve BuS.IVa 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engines, 220 kW (300 hp) each
siemens, schuckert, viii, bomber, aircraft, designed, built, germany, from, 1916, role, bombernational, origin, germanymanufacturer, siemens, schuckert, siemens, schuckert, werke, siemensstadt, berlin, number, built, unfinished, contents, design, development, . The Siemens Schuckert R VIII was a bomber aircraft designed and built in Germany from 1916 1 Siemens Schuckert R VIIIRole BomberNational origin GermanyManufacturer Siemens Schuckert Siemens Schuckert Werke G m b H Siemensstadt Berlin 1 Number built 2 one unfinished 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications Siemens Schuckert R VIII 3 See also 4 ReferencesDesign and development EditHaving built the Steffen R series Siemens Schuckert planned to produce a six engined Riesenflugzeug giant aeroplane for the Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches Imperial German Flying Corps In common with many of the other contemporary R projects the R VIII had all six engines inside the fuselage where they were tended by mechanics driving two tractor and two pusher propellers mounted between the mainplanes via leather cone clutches combining gearboxes shafts and bevel gearboxes Two aircraft were built but only the first R23 16 was completed Ground trials began in 1919 after the armistice but were interrupted by a gearbox failure which resulted in a propeller breaking up and causing extensive damage The second airframe R24 16 was never completed and the first was not repaired after the ground running accident due to the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles At the time of its completion the Siemens Schuckert R VIII was the largest aeroplane in the world the Mannesman Poll triplane was to have been much larger but was not completed before the Versailles Treaty came into force 1 Specifications Siemens Schuckert R VIII Edit Data from The German Giants and German aircraft of the First World War 1 2 General characteristicsCrew 6 Length 21 6 m 70 ft 10 in Wingspan 48 m 157 ft 6 in Height 7 4 m 24 ft 3 in Wing area 440 m2 4 700 sq ft Empty weight 10 478 kg 23 100 lb Gross weight 15 867 kg 34 980 lb Powerplant 6 Basse und Selve BuS IVa 6 cyl water cooled in line piston engines 220 kW 300 hp each Propellers tractor 900 rpm 2 bladed pusher 700 rpm 4 bladedPerformance Maximum speed 125 km h 78 mph 67 kn estimated Range 900 km 560 mi 490 nmi estimated Service ceiling 4 000 m 13 000 ft estimated Wing loading 35 kg m2 7 2 lb sq ft Cost 750 000 MarksSee also EditRelated development Siemens Schuckert R I to R VIIAircraft of comparable role configuration and era AEG R I DFW R I DFW R II DFW R III Linke Hoffman R I Linke Hofmann R II Poll Triplane Zeppelin Staaken R XVIReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siemens Schuckert R VIII a b c d e Haddow G W Grosz Peter M 1988 The German Giants The German R Planes 1914 1918 3rd ed Putnam ISBN 978 0 85177 812 9 Gray Peter 1970 German Aircraft of the First World War 2nd ed London Putnam pp 569 570 ISBN 978 0 370 00103 6 Haddow G W amp Grosz Peter M The German Giants The Story of the R planes 1914 1919 London Putnam 1963 Gray Peter amp Thetford Owen German Aircraft of the First World War London Putnam ISBN 0 370 00103 6 Sollinger Guenther Villehad Forssman Constructing German Bombers 1914 1918 Moscow Rusavia 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siemens Schuckert R VIII amp oldid 961754271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
