W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

BRANDENBURG L 16 German

   A single-seat equi-span fighter triplane, developed for the Austro-Hungarian K.u.k. Luftfahrttruppen, with aerofoil-section I-type interplane bracing struts, the L 16 was powered by a 185 hp Austro-Daimler six-cylinder water-cooled engine and was intended to carry an armament of two synchronised machine guns. Various coolant radiator arrangements were evaluated on the single prototype built, but the fighter offered insufficient promise to warrant series production and development was abandoned.

Max speed, 118 mph (190 km/h).
Empty weight, 1,631 lb (740 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,061 lb (935 kg).
Span, 29 ft 6 1/3 in (9,00 m).
Length, 23 ft 7 7/8 in (7,21 m).
Height, 12 ft 1 2/3 in (3,70 m).
Wing area, 360.59 sq ft (33,5 m2).

C.Owers Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI Vol.1: Landplanes (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 17)

Type L 16
  
   Brandenburg was not immune to the triplane craze and when specifications of a captured Sopwith Triplane were received from Flars a single-seat triplane fighter was soon designed around a 200-hp Daimler engine. Of large dimensions, the L 16 was completed by December 1917. It was a neat looking triplane with equi-span wings. The I-type interplane struts had an airfoil section. Like so many other triplane prototypes it remained a single example. It was sent to Lloyd where it was evaluated with the serial 40.15. Details of its first flights are unknown. By March 1918 it was hangared at the Phonix facilities at Aspern. Flown only occasionally, the triplane was obsolescent and remained with Phonix till the war's end.

Brandenburg Type L 16 Specifications
Source Typenschau PMG Data
Span, m 9.00 9.00
Length, m - 7.17
Height, m - 2.82
Wing Area, m2 33.50 33.5
Empty Wt., kg 740 740
Loaded Wt., kg 935 935
Speed, km/h 190 190
Time to 1000 m 4 minutes 1 minutes
Time to 2000 m - 3 minutes
Motor 185-hp Austro-Daimler 200-hp Austro-Daimler

P.Grosz, G.Haddow, P.Shiemer Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One (Flying Machines)

Brandenburg L 16

  Upon receiving technical specifications of the Sopwith Triplane from Flars, Brandenburg replied on 26 June 1917 that construction of a prototype triplane would begin immediately, with completion optimistically estimated in 5 to 6 weeks. Static calculations for the triplane fighter, known as the L 16 - Brandenburg's last landplane of the war - were submitted for approval on 13 August 1917, and later that month Brandenburg requested a 200 hp Daimler engine for installation. When Flars engineering representatives inspected the completed triplane in Briest on 1 December 1917, they were struck by the "surprisingly large dimensions." The date of the L 16's first flight is unknown. Brandenburg technical data sheets lay claim to an incredible climb rate of 2000 meters (6562 ft) in 3 minutes (with a 185 hp Daimler engine), figures surely based on slide rule calculations and not on actual results. On 1 March 1918, the L 16, now in Phonix's hands, was hangared at Aspern but flight activity remained sporadic. Surpassed by modern biplane fighters with superior performance, the heyday of the triplane was history. On 20 June 1918, the L 16 was reported stored at Phonix where it remained until the war's end, at which time Phonix received payment for the prototype.

Brandenburg L 16
Engine: 200 hp Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 9.00 m (29.53 ft)
Span Middle 9.00 m (29.53 ft)
Span Lower 9.00 m (29.53 ft)
Chord Upper 1.30 m (4.27 ft)
Chord Middle 1.20 m (3.94 ft)
Chord Lower 1.30 m (4.27 ft)
Dihedral Upper 0 deg
Dihedral Lower 0 deg
Sweepback Upper 0 deg
Sweepback Lower 0 deg
Gap Upper 1.20 m (3.94 ft)
Gap Lower 1.30 m (4.27 ft)
Stagger 0.50 m (1.64 ft)
Total Wing Area 33.5 sq m (360 sq ft)
General: Length 7.17 m (23.52 ft)
Height 2.82 m (9.25 ft)
Track 1.70 m (5.58 ft)
Empty Weight 740 kg (1632 lb)
Loaded Weight 935 kg (2062 lb)
Maximum Speed: 190 km/hr (118 mph)
Climb: 1000m(3,281 ft) in 1 min
2000m (6,562 ft) in 3 min

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

60. Flugzeuge der Ungarischen Flugzeugfabrik A.G. (Ufag) Budapest und Hansa Brandenburgische Flugzeugfabrik Brandenburg/Briest
60.59 Brandenburg Dr (Type L 16) Dm 200