В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны

АВИАТИК B-I/B-II / AVIATIK B-I/B-II

   Немецкая фирма Аутомобил-унд-Авиатик из Мюльхаузена (Эльзас) выпустила в 1914-1916 годах несколько типов военных многоцелевых аэропланов. "Остроносые" деревянные бипланы с тянущими винтами и рядными моторами водяного охлаждения - этой схемы придерживалось тогда подавляющее большинство германских авиапредприятий.
   Открыл серию "Авиатик" B-I (заводское обозначение P.15A), появившийся незадолго до начала Первой мировой войны. Двухместный аэроплан без вооружения с двух- или трехстоечной бипланной коробкой применялся в качестве разведчика на западном и восточном фронтах примерно до начала 1915 года.
   Единственным оригинальным моментом в этой машине была ярко выраженная стреловидность крыльев, унаследованная от довоенной разработки фирмы Авиатик - аэроплана "Пфайль" ("Стрела"). Считалось, что это обеспечивает самолету повышенную продольную устойчивость. Следующим стал "Авиатик" B-II (P.15B), отличавшийся более мощным мотором.
  
  
ДВИГАТЕЛЬ
  
   "Мерседес", 100 л.с. (B-I) или 120 л.с. (B-II)

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

Aviatik B I
   The Aviatik B I appeared in 1914 in both two- and three-bay versions. Both types are seen in the illustration. Power unit was 100 h.p. Mercedes D I.


Aviatik B II
   Constructed and used during 1915, the B II appeared in small numbers and was a neat-looking aeroplane for the period. The painting of the patee crosses underneath the upper wingtips and on the wheel discs is noteworthy. As in the majority of B types, the pilot sat in the rear cockpit and the observer forward. Engine, 120 h.p. Mercedes D II. Span, 12.49 m. (40 ft. 11 3/4 in.). Length, 7.10 m. (23 ft. 3 5/8 in.).

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

Aviatik B - Type P15

   Aviatik's next B-type design was a further refined design, the P15 with 2-bay wings and a fixed fin. Three-bay P15 aircraft were also built to increase the bomb load carried by the aircraft. Construction was conventional and engines used included the 100 hp Argus As.I and 100 hp Mercedes D.I.


Aviatik B.I & B.II

   Until mid-1915 there were many undocumented variations in the aircraft built and the type designations did not address these. On August 8, 1915 Idflieg published an expanded designation system to clarify some of the details of these aircraft. In the new scheme Idflieg mentioned the P15a and P15b, but details of these versions are unknown because if either Idflieg or Aviatik described the differences, the documentation has been lost. Therefore it is not possible to identify the Aviatik B-type variants in more detail. Furthermore, existing aircraft were retroactively designated Aviatik B.I and B.II in addition to aircraft built after August 8, 1915.
   What is known is that aircraft in the production batch B.1320-1355/15 were two-bay Aviatik B.II aircraft with 120 hp Mercedes D.II engines and were used for bombing. It may be that Aviatik B-type aircraft powered by a 100 hp engine were retroactively designated Aviatik B.I, and those with 120 hp engines were designated Aviatik B.II, but this is supposition not confirmed by documentation.
   In addition to German-built aircraft, 23 Aviatik B.II aircraft powered by 120 hp Daimler engines were built in Austria and a further 49 'improved' B.II aircraft powered by 150 hp Daimler engines were also built in Austria. These aircraft were used at the front and later as trainers.

Журнал Flight

Flight, August 28, 1914.

AIRCRAFT "MADE IN GERMANY"
WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED AGAINST THE ALLIES.

7. The Aviatik Tractor Biplane
   is of the arrow type, although its wings only possess a comparatively slight sweep back. As in other biplanes of this type, the upper main plane is straight as viewed from in front, while the lower plane is given a slight dihedral angle. The rectangular section fuselage is of streamline form, but is deeper at the stern than is usually the case. The turtle back does not extend over the entire length of the fuselage, but finishes off just behind the pilot's seat, which is considerably farther forward than in other arrow type machines, owing, no doubt, to the fact that the wings are so nearly straight. In front is the passenger's seat, between which and the engine are the fuel tanks with sufficient fuel for a 4-hours flight. Either Argus or Mercedes 100 h.p. engines may be fitted. The radiators are mounted on either side of the fuselage. The chassis is of the usual simple type, differing, however, from others in that the struts do not form an angle at their lower extremities, but are secured to two short skids from which is slung the tubular axle. The tail planes are protected against contact with the ground by a short swivelling skid. With full load on board, including pilot and passenger and four hours' fuel, the machine does just over 60 m.p.h., and climbs 1,000 metres (3,281 ft.) in 15 minutes.