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

Aviatik B - Type P14

   Aviatik's next B-type design was a slightly smaller, more refined design, the P14 with 2 1/2-bay wings with 14.5 m span. Again the aircraft were of conventional construction and powered by a variety of 85-100 hp Argus, Benz, and Mercedes engines.


Aviatik B-Types in Combat

   In 1914 the German army air service went to war flying Aviatik, Albatros, and LVG B-types and a melange of Taubes and other monoplanes and biplanes. Any aircraft, especially any reliable, robust aircraft, was highly valuable for reconnaissance and light bombing. The rigors of front-line service quickly weeded out types with limited potential like the Taubes, and the Aviatik, Albatros, and LVG B-types became the most numerous combat aircraft.
   Aviatik B-types were known for reliability, robust structures, and load-carrying ability, and therefore formed the equipment of the first German bombing units. An Aviatik P14, B.114/14, was the first German aircraft downed in air-to-air combat (on October 5, 1914 by a French Voisin V pusher). Late historian Alex Imrie claimed Aviatik B.192a/13 was the first German aircraft armed with a machine gun for offensive purposes, and on April 28, 1915, an Aviatik flown by Hptm. Hugo Geyer and Oblt. Egbert Kuhn of Feld-Flieger-Abteilung 48 attacked and downed a Voisin pusher from a formation of three.
   Aviatik B-types served at the front in quantity throughout 1915 and into 1916, although from late 1915 they were gradually replaced by armed C-type aircraft. Surviving B-types were then used for training.


   Most early German aircraft were in plain finish of clear-doped linen with the early version of the iron cross national insignia. In many cases the insignia was painted directly on the fabric, while in others it was painted on a white background for contrast. Later the white background was reduced to a 50mm white outline.

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

Aviatik B.I Series 31 and 31.7

  Seven Aviatik biplanes purchased prior to the outbreak of war (5 June 1914) were shipped from the Muhlhausen factory on 20 June. Between September 1914 and January 1915, an additional 30 Aviatik biplanes were purchased, but only a grand total of 25 (including 30.01 and 30.02) were delivered, some supplied from German Army stocks. The original LA designation Av.1 to Av.23 was changed to Aviatik B.I 31.01 to 31.23 in February 1915. As was often the case in late 1914, some squadron aircraft were identified solely by names such as Baba, Dutch, Elsa, Muki, and Rosa, by Roman numerals such as Av.l and Av.XII, or by the work number such as Aviatik 282. Most of the Aviatik biplanes were the twin-bay Type P.14, but at least three were the Type P.15 fitted with a three-bay wing cellule.
  In early July 1914, LA pilots were performing familiarization flights. The Aviatik biplane was rugged and stable but being relatively heavy, tended to be underpowered with its 100 hp Mercedes engine. At least six aircraft were retro-fitted in the field with 120 hp Daimler engines to obtain better performance. Most sources agree that on 2 August 1914 Aviatik B.I (Av.2) of Flik 5 had the honor of performing the first Austro-Hungarian war flight over enemy territory. The B.I was flown by Fliks 3, 5, 7, and 8 on the Russian Front and Fliks 2 and 4 on the Serbian Front. By mid-1915, the B.I was rapidly reaching the end of its usefulness. Flik 7 reported in August 1915 that the worn-out B.I could not climb over 900 meters (2953 ft). In September 1915, the extant B.I biplanes were withdrawn and assigned to Fleks 2-6, 8, 9, and 12 as trainers, while eight machines were sent to the Aviatik factory in Vienna for modification to dual control. To identify the dual-control version, the designations were changed as follows:
Conversion Number Original Number Conversion Number Original Number
31.71 31.01 (Av.1) 31.75 31.15 (Av.15)
31.72 31.05 (Av.5) 31.76 31.19 (Av.19)
31.73 31.06 (Av.6) 31.77 31.22 (Av.22)
31.74 31.07 (Av.7) 31.78 -
  Fitted with 120 hp Daimler engines, the dual-control trainers were flown by Fleks 3, 4, and 6. As of July 1917, three Aviatik B.I series 31 and six series 31.7 were still on charge.

Designation Work Number Type Designation Work Number Type
Av.1 283 P.14 Av. 13 291 P.14
Av.2 280 P.14 Av. 14 324
Av.3 282 P.14 Av.15 323
Av.4 292 P.14 Av. 16 322
Av.5 287 Av. 17 319
Av.6 288 P.14 Av. 18 317 P.14
Av.7 289 P.14 Av.19
Av.8 300 P.14 Av.20 P.15
Av.9 299 P.15 Av.21 P.15
Av. 10 293 Av.22
Av. 11 297 Av.23
Av. 12 298

Aviatik B.I Series 31
Engine: 100 hp Mercedes
Wing: Span Upper 14.00 m (45.93 ft)
Span Lower 10.60 m (34.78 ft)
Chord Upper 1.88 m (6.17 ft)
Chord Lower 1.88 m (6.17 ft)
Dihedral Lower 6 deg
Gap 1.91 m (6.27 ft)
Total Wing Area 45 sq m (484 sq ft)
General: Length 8.63 m (28.31 ft)
Height 3.15 m (10.33 ft)
Track 2.05 m (6.73 ft)
Empty Weight 825 kg (1819 lb)
Loaded Weight 1250 kg (2756 lb)
Maximum Speed: 100 km/hr (62 mph)

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

30. Flugzeuge der Österreichischen Aviatik-Werke Wien, Stadlau
31.01 — 31.23 Aviatik B.I (dt. Aviatik-Werke) Merc 100

Журнал Flight

Flight, February 14, 1914.

FOREIGN AVIATION NEWS.

Beating the World's Duration Record.

   SPLENDID as was Langer's duration record, to which reference was made in FLIGHT last week, it was completely put in the shade by the performance by Ingold on a Pfeil biplane on Saturday last. Setting out from Mulhausen at 7.35 a.m., he landed at 11.55 p.m. near Fuerstended, so that he had been in the air for 16 hours 20 mins., during which he covered a distance of about 1,700 kiloms. Langer's record was 14 hours 7 mins. The Aviatik-Pfeil biplane used is fitted with a 6-cyl. Mercedes motor.


Flight, June 5, 1914.

THE PRINCE HENRY CIRCUIT, 1914.

MACHINES IN PRINCE HENRY CIRCUIT.

The Aviatik Biplane follows standard lines as regards the general arrangement of its component parts. It is of the "Arrow" type, now so popular in Germany, and has an all-enclosed fuselage. The chassis is of modern simple type without skids. Pilot's and passenger's seats are arranged tandem fashion, the pilot occupying the rear seat.


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.