В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны

Румплер B-I / RUMPLER B-I

   Доктор Румплер, владелец и главный конструктор фирмы Эдмунд Румплер Флюгцойгверк, спроектировал в 1914 году двухместный многоцелевой биплан смешанной конструкции с преобладанием древесины, использовав для него фюзеляж моноплана "Румплер-Таубе".
   Самолет с заводским обозначением 4A оказался весьма удачным. Его приняли на вооружение немецких ВВС под индексом В-I и запустили в серию на фирмах Румплер и Пфальц. Всего построено 198 экземпляров машины, которые применялись в 1914-1915 годах на западном и восточном фронтах.


ДВИГАТЕЛЬ
  
   "Мерседес", 100 л.с.

А.Александров, Г.Петров Крылатые пленники России

Рядом с "Эльфауге Б. I" 6-го авиапарка (см. фото 9) стоит аппарат "Румплер Б. I" с номером 213 на киле, ошибочно считавшийся "Марсом". Такой же самолет, сохранивший германский номер Б. 740/15, представлен на фотографиях 11, а и б. Код 4А был заводским обозначением типа, а саму фирму "Румплер Люфтфарцойгбау" (E.Rumpler Luftfahrzeugbau GmbH, затем Rumpler Flugzeugwerke с 1915 г.) учредил в 1909 г. австриец Эдмунд Румплер (Edmund Rumpler). Построив 19 самолетов в 1911 г., она увеличила их выпуск до 108 единиц в 1914 г. "Румплер Б. I" легко узнаваем по "курносым" очертаниям киля и руля поворота и по характерному вырезу в центроплане верхнего крыла (12 и 13). Модель оснащалась все тем же мотором "Мерседес" 100 л. с. и боковыми секционными радиаторами "Хазет" (14, из коллекции М. Маслова). Любопытной деталью являлся воронкообразный обтекаемый расходный бензобак под центропланом (15). Отметим также, что схожие типы зачастую имели пропеллеры различных марок, в частности: французские "Нормаль" диаметром 2,30 м (10) и "Интеграл" диаметром от 2,40 до 2,85 м (12), германские "Беренд унд Рюггебрехт" (14) и "Гаруда" (15) диаметром, соответственно 2,80 и 2,70 м (Normale, Integral, Behrend & Riiggebrecht, Garuda) и т. д.

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

Rumpler B I (4A)
   Probably the first Rumpler biplane, the B I was built in 1914 and used for reconnaissance work and training duties. Engine, 100 h.p. Mercedes D I. Span, 13.0 m. (42 ft. 7 7/8 in.). Length, 8.4 m. (27 ft. 6 3/4 in.). Height, 3.1 (10 ft. 2 1/8 in.). Weights: Empty, 750 kg. (1,650 lb.). Loaded, 970 kg (2,134 lb.). Speed, 145 km.hr. (90.625 m.p.h.).

Rumpler 4A 13
   Developed from the B I, the 4A 13 differed in having a comma-type balanced rudder and radiators located on the fuselage sides. Engine, 100 h.p. Mercedes D I. Span, 14.5 m. (47 ft. 7 in.). Length, 8.4 m. (27ft. 6 3/4 in). Height, 3.1 m. (10 ft. 6 in.) Weights: Empty, 780 kg. (1,716 lb.). Loaded, 1,064 kg. (2,341 lb.). Speed, 145 km.hr. (90.625 m.p.h.). The Rumpler 4A 14 was a similar machine but powered with 150 h.p. Benz engine which gave loaded weight of 1,130 kg. (2,486 lb.). No photo available.

J.Herris Rumpler Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 11)

Rumpler B.I
  
   By 1914 it was increasingly clear that the biplane had an inherently superior performance compared to the Taube, having lower drag and therefore higher speed, climb rate, and ceiling. Rumpler designed their unarmed biplane, factory designation 4A, in 1914, and the aircraft was purchased by the army as the Rumpler B.I. Powered by a 100 hp Mercedes D.I, the Rumpler B.I was a good aircraft for its time, with good performance and flying qualities, and gave satisfactory service. The Rumpler 4A13 derived from the 4A/B.I had a balanced rudder and the same engine. The Rumpler 4A14 was similar but powered by a 150 hp Benz Bz.III.
   The Austro-Hungarian Luftfahrtruppen purchased a total of 31 Rumpler B.Is. They were used by Fliks 4, 5, 9, and 13 for bombing and reconnaissance and were used as trainers at least through August 1918.

Rumpler B.I Specifications
Engine: 100 hp Mercedes D.I
Wing: Span 13.0 m
General: Length 8.4 m
Height 3.1 m
Empty Weight 750 kg
Loaded Weight 970 kg
Maximum Speed: 145 kmh
  

   Military aircraft serials for 1914 and 1915 are complicated, as there were impressments and aircraft taken over from the factories as available. This means the serials were often not typical numbers. Sometimes the aircraft type changes with each serial within a series of numbers. (Data courtesy Reinhard Zankl.)

Rumpler B.I

1914
B.362/14 - B.395/14 (34 a/c) Maybe more, but certainly not more than B.360/16 to B.406/16
B.470/14 - B.487/14 (18 a/c)
B.509/14 (1 a/c) Range 506-511/14 so far uncovered by other types*
B.567/14 (1 a/c) Range 562-570/14 so far uncovered by other types*
B.669/14 (1 a/c) Also noted as Av B.I
B.708/14 - B.760/14 (53 a/c) Bordered by Av. B.I 707/14 and Alb B.II B.766/14*
B.959/14 (1 a/c) Bordered by LVG B.I 950/14 and Go B.I 960/14*
B.1018/14 - B.1042/14 (25 a/c) Bordered by Alb B.I 1017/14 and Fok B.I 1043/14*
B.1196/14 (1 a/c)

1915
B.352/15 - B.355/15 (4 a/c) Bordered by Eu B.Ш 350/15 and Av B.I 359/15*
B.367/15 (1 a/c) May be a mis-recorded B.367/14
B.383/15 (1 a/c)
B.955/15 - B.966/15 (12 a/c)

   Note: * doesn't mean the uncovered serials have to be Rumpler B.I

   Several Rumpler B.I aircraft were used by the Rumpler flying school (Militar Flieger Schule Muncheberg) which were owned by the Rumpler factory and had no military serial.

The Navy received 24 Rumpler B.I aircraft with various engines:

S.37-S.41 (5 a/c)
S.59-S.65 (7 a/c)
S.93-S.95 (3 a/c)
S.128-S.135 (8 a/c)
S.163 (1 a/c)

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

01. — 010. Flugzeuge ausländischer Produktion (Самолеты иностранного производства)
02.01 — 02.29 Rumpler B.I Merc 100, Dm 100

Журнал Flight

Flight, July 3, 1914.

FOREIGN AIRCRAFT NEWS.

New World's Duration Record.

   BRIEF reference was made in our last issue to the splendid flight of Basser on a Rumpler biplane on the 24th ult., when he made a non-stop of 18 hrs. 11 mins. He started at 3.49 p.m. on the 23rd ult. and landed at 10 a.m. the next morning. Landsmann on an Albatros biplane who started at Johannisthal at 9.9 p.m. on the 33rd ult., after circling above the aerodrome for some time was driven away by a storm and eventually landed at Liegnitz in Silesia at 2.25 the following afternoon, having made a non-stop flight of 17 hrs. 17 mins. The previous duration record was Poulet's 16 hrs. 28 mins. made in April last on a Caudron.
   Splendid as was Basser's record, it was beaten within four days by his rival Landsmann who, starting at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday last flew over a course between Johannisthal and Schulzendorf for 21 hours 49 mins. without stopping, the flight only coming to an end through the petrol supply failing. Altogether 625 litres of fuel and 50 kilogs. of oil were used while the distance covered was about 1,000 kiloms. Landsmann used an Albatros biplane which, like Basser's Rumpler, was fitted with a 100 h.p. Mercedes engine.


Flight, September 18, 1914.

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

31. The Rumpler Biplane
   is one of the newest types of German biplanes, as it made its first appearance on the last day of the "Triangle" race. The rectangular section fuselage is of very roomy proportions as in all Rumpler machines. It is covered in front with aluminium, and a slight turtle-back is formed by three-ply wood; the rest of the fuselage is covered with fabric. The chassis is similar to that of the new monoplane, so that spare parts may be employed to replace any broken parts of either monoplane or biplane.
   The wings have been designed with a view to facilitate erecting and dismantling, and differ from usual practice in that the upper plane does not join in the centre as in nearly all other German biplanes, but follows more the English practice of having a short centre section attached to the fuselage by four tubes, which remains in place when the wings are dismantled. Ailerons are fitted to the upper plane only, and the control cables do not, as in previous Rumpler machines, pass through the interior of the plane, but under the lower plane and up through openings to the top plane. The interplane struts are streamline steel tubes, which are quickly detachable, and the cross-bracing is by means of stranded steel cables. Pilot and passenger are installed tandem-fashion in separate cockpits, the passenger sitting in front. The engine fitted as standard is a 100 h.p. Mercedes.