O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Aviatik C I and C III

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   During 1916. in an endeavour to meet the demand for better performance, the Aviatik C III was introduced. This machine, however, was little more than a refined C I. The nose contours were considerably cleaned up and a large spinner fixed to the propeller; a new exhaust manifold ejecting horizontally to starboard was also fitted. A further improvement was the installation of the new aerofoil-shape radiator in the starboard side of the top-wing centre-section. In addition to improving forward vision considerably, these refinements added some 18 km.hr. (11.25 m.p.h.) to the speed. Wingspan was reduced, as was the chord of the ailerons, which were hinged to a false spar. There was also improvement in the fuel system, which in the C I had consisted of no fewer than four separate tanks, with a complicated system of cocks and piping to enable the engine to run on any separate tank. Apart from these modifications, the airframe remained virtually that of the earlier aircraft.
   Aviatiks were used by the Fl. Abt. units for reconnaissance, and on occasion they were operated in nights of anything from three t o six aircraft, solely as armed escort t o unarmed reconnaissance machines. The destruction of an Aviatik on 7th November 1915 was instrumental in the award of the Victoria Cross t o 2nd Lt. G. S. M. Insall of No. 11 Sqdn. R . F . C , who, flying a Vickers Gunbus, forced down the Aviatik. Its destruction was completed by his dropping a bomb on it.

TECHNICAL DATA
   Description: Two-seat reconnaissance and escort.
   Manufacturers:
   Automobil und Aviatik A.G. (Av.).
   Hannoversche Waggonfabrik A.G. (Han.).
   Power Plant: One 160 h.p. Mercedes D III 6 cylinder in-line water-cooled engine.
   Dimensions: Span, 12 5 m. (41 ft. 0 1/4 in.), C I; 118 m. (38 ft. 5 5/8 in.), C III. Length, 7.925 m. (26 ft. 0 in.), C I; 8.08 m. (26 ft. 6 1/8 in.), C III. Height, 2.95 m. (9 ft. 8 1/8 in.), C I; 2.95 m. (9 ft. 8 1/8 in.), C III. Wing area, 43 sq.m. (465.4 sq.ft.), C I; 35 sq.m. (378 sq.ft.), C III.
   Weights: Empty, 750 kg. (1,650 lb.), C I; 980 kg. (2,156 lb.), C III. Loaded, 1,242 kg. (2,732 lb.), C I; 1,340 kg. (2,948 lb.), C III.
   Performance: Maximum speed, 142 km.hr. (88.75 m.p.h.), C I; 160 km.hr. (100 m.p.h.), C III. Initial climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 12 min., C I; 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 7 min., C III. Ceiling, 3,500 m. (11,480 ft.), C I; 4,500 m. (14,760 ft.) in 55 min., C III. Duration 3 hr.
   Armament: One Parabellum machine-gun for observer mounted on rails on either side of front cockpit, the gun transferred as necessary. Later, on the C III, two guns were mounted, one on either rail.

J.Herris Aviatik Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 10)

Aviatik C.III

   Like the Aviatik C.II, the Aviatik C.III was developed from the earlier C.I in an attempt to improve performance, especially speed. The C.III retained the same configuration, construction, and unhandy, observer-in-front seating arrangement as the C.I, and was powered by the same 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine. Like the C.Ia and C.II, the C.III had a more streamlined nose with propeller spinner, and the boxy under-wing radiator was replaced with one of airfoil shape mounted in the upper wing. Basically, the production C.III differed from the prototype C.Ia by having a smaller wing to reduce drag. Unfortunately, the smaller wing reduced payload and climb rate; giving the faster C.III basically the same climb rate as the C.I.
   Unlike the C.II, the C.III retained the fixed fin and rudder of the earlier C.I and lacked the pilot's headrest that was unique to the C.II. To further increase speed, useful load was less than the C.I.


C.III Production and Service

   The prototype for the C.III was Aviatik C.Ia C.l750/16 from the last C.I order of April 1916 for 75 Aviatik C.I (C.1700/16 to C.1774/16). The last 24 aircraft of that order (C.1751/16 to C.1774/16) were built as the C.III. A further 25 Aviatik C.III aircraft were ordered in July 1916 with serial numbers C.3150/16 to C.3174/16. In August 1917 there was a final Aviatik C.III order for 200 aircraft as trainers, serial numbers C.12201/17 to C.12399/17. These differed from the original C.III in having the pilot in the front and the observer, with his flexible machine gun, aft.
   Interestingly, the Aviatik C.III preceded the C.II into service. Although the C.II and C.III shared many aerodynamic refinements from the C.Ia, the C.III was more closely related to the earlier C.I design and used the same 160-hp Mercedes D.III engine as the C.I. Furthermore, that engine was available earlier than the Benz Bz.IV used in the C.II.
   The C.III appeared at the front in small numbers from mid 1916 through early 1917, a maximum of 47 being at the front at the end of October, 1916. Operational units known to have used the Aviatik C.Ia/C.III include: FA25, FFA12, FFAA2, FFA65, FFA67, bFFAA, bFFA6, KS25/KG5, and E447b; school use was with SchS8.


The specifications of the production Aviatik C-types are given in one table for ease of comparison.
Aviatik C-Type Specifications
Aviatik C.I Aviatik C.II Aviatik C.III
Engine: 150 hp Benz Bz.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III 200 hp Benz IV 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Span, Upper: 12.5 m (41.0 ft.) 11.71 m (38.4 ft.) 11.8 m (38.7 ft.)
Span, Lower: 10.75 m (35.3 ft.) 11.71 m (38.4 ft.) 10.2 m (33.5 ft.)
Chord, Upper: 1.88 m (6.17 ft.) 1.70 m (5.58 ft.) 1.70 m (5.58 ft.)
Chord, Lower: 1.88 m (6.17 ft.) 1.70 m (5.58 ft.) 1.70 m (5.58 ft.)
Length: 7.91 m (25.95 ft.) 6.95 m (22.8 ft.) 8.08 m (26.5 ft.)
Track: 1.94m (6.36 ft.) - 1.95 m (6.40 ft.)
Gap: 2.0 m (6.56 ft.) 1.80 m(5.91 ft.) 1.80 m (5.91 ft.)
Wing Area: 43 sq. m. (463 sq. ft.) 37.9 sq. m. (408 sq. ft.) 35.0 sq. m. (377 sq. ft.)
Empty Weight: 745 kg. (1,642 lb.) 916 kg. (2,019 lb.) 895 kg. (1,973 lb.)
Loaded Weight: 1,245 kg. (2,745 lb.) 1,509 kg. (3,327 lb.) 1,220 kg. (2,690 lb.)
Maximum Speed: 120 km/h (74.6 mph) 155 km/h (96.3 mph) 155 km/h (96.3 mph)
Cruise Speed: - - 140 km/h (87 mph)
Climb to 1,000 m: 5 minutes - 6.5 minutes
Climb to 2,000 m: 16 minutes - 16 minutes
Climb to 3,000 m: 33 minutes - 31 minutes
Climb to 4,500 m: - - 55 minutes
Service Ceiling: - - 4,500 m
Duration: 3 hours - Range: 480 km
Armament: 1-2 flexible machine guns 1-2 flexible machine guns 1-2 flexible machine guns
Note: The C.III had 1 degree of dihedral on both upper and lower wings.


Aviatik C.III Production Orders
Date Qty Serial Numbers
April 1916 25 C.1750-1774/16 (Note 1)
July 1916 25 C.3075-3149/16
August 1917 200 C.12201-12399/17 (Note 2)
Total Ordered 250
Note 1: Changed C.I order (Av C.Ia C.1750/16 = C.III prototype) Note 2: Ordered as trainers, pilot in front

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)

Automobil und Aviatik A.-G., Leipzig-Heiterblick (Av)

Aircraft Development:

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  The type Av C.III (built in 1916), also with Mercedes D.III engine, was aerodynamically improved to such an extent that its top speed already reached 160 km/h. This was achieved by reducing the damaging frontal drag, installing a wing radiator and modifying the wing profile and torpedo-like fuselage shape.
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Журнал Flight

Flight, September 11, 1919.

AVIATIK "MILESTONES"

   OF the German aircraft firms which were in existence before the War, one of the best known and most important was the Aviatik (Automobil u. Aviatik A.G.), whose works were originally at Mulhausen, Alsace. Quite early in the War, however, the proximity of the works to the front made it necessary to transfer them to a safer locality. This was hurriedly done, under cover of darkness it is alleged, and works were established at Freiburg im Breisgau. The demands for output soon rendered these works too small, and a large factory was established at Leipzig-Heiterblick, which is at the present time the main Aviatik factory. Work was commenced at this factory in 1916, and in addition the Grade works at Bork i. d. Mark, near Berlin, were purchased by the Aviatik firm, who enlarged them considerably and established a flying school there. The Aviatik firm intends to remain in the aircraft industry after the War, and in view of this fact, as well as on account of the amount of work done by this firm during the War, a few brief notes on the various Aviatik types, based on an article published in Flugsport, may not be without interest.

The Aviatik, Type C I
   This machine, which was built during 1914-1915, had a 160 h.p. Mercedes engine, and the radiator mounted on the front struts of the cabane. The gunner occupied the front seat, two straight gun rails being mounted on the sides of the fuselage. The machine had a speed of 142 km./hour.

The Aviatik, Type C III
   was built in 1916, and also had a 160 h.p. Mercedes engine. It was designed to meet the demand for better performance and although the engine remained the same, the speed of this type was increased from 142 to 160 km./hour. This was accomplished mainly by a general "cleaning up," as placing the radiator in the top plane, giving the body a better streamline shape, and last, but not least, by employing a different wing section.