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Centennial Perspective
J.Herris
Rumpler Aircraft of WWI
400

J.Herris - Rumpler Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (11)

An interesting collection of two-seaters, typifying the equipment of 1917-18. In the foreground is a Rumpler C IV, the other aircraft being a Rumpler C VII, a Hannover CL IIIa and a D.F.W. C V.
Two Rumplers are lined up in this well-known photograph with a Hannover CL.II and DFW C.V in the background. Unusually, the early Rumpler nearest the camera, C.IV 8267/16, is covered with printed camouflage fabric. The second Rumpler, C.IV 6695/16, was sent back to "Lager West" from AFP 6 in April 1917 for strengthening of the rear fuselage.
Rumpler 4B12, Marine Number 105, and an FF29 at either Flying Station List or Sylt.
An interesting collection of two-seaters, typifying the equipment of 1917-18. In the foreground is a Rumpler C IV, the other aircraft being a Rumpler C VII, a Hannover CL IIIa and a D.F.W. C V.
Two Rumplers are lined up in this well-known photograph with a Hannover CL.II and DFW C.V in the background. Unusually, the early Rumpler nearest the camera, C.IV 8267/16, is covered with printed camouflage fabric. The second Rumpler, C.IV 6695/16, was sent back to "Lager West" from AFP 6 in April 1917 for strengthening of the rear fuselage.
LVG C.II 2135/15 is at left foreground and three late-production Rumpler C.III aircraft rest in the right foreground on 16 April 1917. Interestingly, there are no insignia on the rudders of the C.III aircraft. A Rumpler C.I is in the center background with another LVG C.II at right background.
Rumpler C.IV 8424/16 Dalila of the first production batch undergoes maintenance.This early production C.IV is the subject of Steve Anderson's cover painting. LVG C.V aircraft are on both sides of Dalila.
Rumpler Taubes

   On July 21 1910, Edmund Rumpler obtained an exclusive, five-year manufacturing license for Taube aircraft from Austrian inventor Igo Etrich. After a series of flight demonstrations, on Oct. 30, 1910, the Prussian army ordered five Taubes from Rumpler. However, the German patent office invalided Etrich's Taube patent in September 1911 and the Taube design became public domain. Immediately, many German companies started building aircraft to the Taube configuration due to its inherent stability and safety. Understandably, Rumpler then refused to honor the license agreement or pay license fees. Rumpler continued to build Taubes that were essentially the same as the Etrich design, and so Etrich successfully sued Rumpler. However, the amount of the damages awarded was small compared to the amount Rumpler was making from selling aircraft to the Fliegertruppe. The military was keen on the Taube due to its inherent stability and safety, a key advantage in these early days of aviation. As a result, the army purchased a wide variety of Taubes from different manufacturers, with the greatest number being purchased from Rumpler.
   The Taube’s limitations gradually became evident, and few were purchased after 1914, when the configuration was clearly obsolete. The Taube had high drag, so speed, climb, and ceiling were limited. And in combat, its inherent stability became a problem,- it was simply too stable and difficult to maneuver to dodge anti-aircraft fire or elude an attacking aircraft. Fortunately, there were few attacking aircraft during the war's early months.
   On September 4, 1913, a Rumpler Taube lost a wing during the annual army maneuvers and the two airmen were killed. This caused the German military authorities to perform their first serious structural tests on aircraft, with the result that the Rumpler Taube’s safety factor was found to be 3.42 at best. To express it differently, the Rumpler Taube could withstand a G-loading of 3.42 G's before its structure failed. To put that in perspective, a normal category light aircraft in the USA must sustain a load factor of 3.8 without damage, and 150% of that stress, or a load factor of 5.7 Gs, before structural failure occurs. To be certified as an acrobatic aircraft, the load factors would be 6.0 Gs without damage and 9.0 Gs before structural failure. To return to the Rumpler Taube, one aircraft (A.28/12) tested had a safety factor of 3.42, but another, A.46/13, had a safety factor of only 2.89! This was not strong enough to be safe for routine flight let alone the stress of combat missions.
   Recognizing the Taube configuration was obsolete, the army started purchasing biplanes before the war started and disposed of 55 older, worn out Taubes the end of June 1914, just before the war. Although the army had to purchase additional Taubes early in the war to make up losses, the Taube’s days were clearly over. Interestingly, Rumpler Taubes did not last long at the front after hostilities started; the Gotha Taubes were more robust and better able to withstand the rigors of operational service.

Rumpler Taubes Purchased by the Fliegertruppe (Prussian Army)
Year Quantity
1911 10
1912 48
1913 73
1914 3
Early Rumpler Taube displaying the characteristic Taube wing and tail planform.
The Navy used land-based Rumpler Taube in addition to Rumpler Taube floatplanes. Rumpler Taube given Naval serials include S8, S9, S20, S21, S22, S42 (formerly A.131/13), and S43 (formerly A.133/13), the last two transferred from the Army.
Rumpler Taube A.10/12 was an early, pre-war aircraft with a four-cylinder Argus engine. The observer was seated in front for best visibility, and the aft-seated pilot had wing cut-outs for enhanced downward field of view.
The Rumpler 3C Taube was more streamlined development of the original Rumpler Taube, itself a copy of the Etrich Taube. Power was a 100 hp Mercedes D.I six-cylinder engine. The large wing cut-outs are to give the pilot and observer good downward visibility for its role as a reconnaissance aircraft. A claw brake is fitted under the axle.
Streamlining became a Rumpler hallmark. The Rumpler 3C Taube was the aircraft type in which Linnekogel climbed out of the cockpit in flight and held on to the support pylon while the aircraft flew itself hands-off. This demonstrated not only his courage but the inherent stability of the Taube design that was so prized before the war when primitive aviation was very hazardous.
Crewmen in front of an early Rumpler Taube with "Rumpler Eindecker" painted on the fuselage and tactical number "16" on the aft fuselage.
Rumpler Taube in production. Rumpler gained an early reputation based on building and selling copies of the Etrich Taube. Rumpler Taubes won many aviation awards before the war.
Early Rumpler Taube displaying the characteristic Taube wing and tail planform.
A series of German aeroplanes at Johannisthal from photographs kindly sent to us by the Hon. Lady Shelley. - Rumpler-Taube in flight.
Rumpler Taube floatplane. The German navy purchased at least three Rumpler Taube floatplanes, Marine Numbers E1, E4, and E8, all powered by 100 hp Argus engines.
This Rumpler Taube crashed on July 20,1914, proving that inherent stability is not everything.
Early Rumpler Seaplanes
  
   Starting in 1914 Rumpler developed a flying boat that remained a single prototype and a small series of floatplanes developed from the Rumpler 4A13, itself a more powerful development of the Rumpler B.I unarmed two-seat trainer and reconnaissance airplane.
   As was typical of German naval aircraft, there were a number of variations on the basic design with limited production. As the war progressed Rumpler focused on two-seat reconnaissance airplanes for the Army, which purchased almost 20 times more airplanes than the Navy.

Rumpler 4B11, 4B12, & 4B13

   The Rumpler 4B11 and 4B12 were two-seat reconnaissance and training floatplanes based on the Rumpler 4A13 landplane. Both were built in very small numbers for the Navy. The 4B11 was powered by a 100 hp Mercedes D.I. The 4B12 had the more powerful 150 hp Benz Bz.III. The 4B13 was similar except powered by a 160 hp Gnome rotary engine. All three types were conventional wood, wire, and fabric designs typical of their era.


Rumpler 4B Production
Type Qty Marine Numbers
4B11 7 49, 64, 86-90
4B12 31 51, 101-110, 241-253, 436-442
4B13 1 50
Rumpler 4B11 Marine Number 49.
The Rumpler 4B12 was powered by a 150 hp Benz Bz.III. The Rumpler 4B series were developments of the 4A13 landplane. This unmarked aircraft may have been the prototype seaplane; it still uses the small rudder of its landplane ancestors while later seaplanes had a larger rudder due to the destabilizing effect of the floats.
Rumpler 4B12; no Marine Number is visible and the rudder is smaller than production machines, indicating this is the 4B12 prototype.
Rumpler 4B12 Marine Number 252 has yet another fin and rudder design.
Rumpler 4B12 Marine Number 108.
Rumpler 4B12 Marine Number 436.
Rumpler 4B12 Marine Number 250. (The Peter M. Bowers Collection/The Museum of Flight)
Rumpler 4B12, Marine Number not known.
Rumpler 4B12 serves as a background for a crew portrait.
Rumpler 4B12, Marine Number 105, and an FF29 at either Flying Station List or Sylt.
Rumpler 4B12 in flight.
Rumpler 4B12 apparently damaged in a landing accident.
Rumpler 4C Taube
Rumpler 4C Taube
Rumpler Taube of Flieger-Abteilung 35.
Rumpler Taube in the snow is visited by a woman; details are not known. The national insignia appears to be painted on the elevator in addition to the normal locations.
Rumpler Taube 4C with eye-catching lettering identifying the manufacturer. It worked; Rumpler was one of the most well-known prewar German aircraft manufacturers.
The Rumpler Taube 4C, normally powered by a 100 hp Mercedes D.I, was the last Rumpler Taube design. For improved maneuverability it had conventional ailerons and elevator. (Peter M. Bowers Collection/The Museum of Flight)
Rumpler 1914 Military Mono. The tail of the Rumpler 4C looked like that of the Rumpler B.I biplane that was soon to follow the Taube into production.
In September 1914 aerial reconnaissance by both airplanes and airships was critical to German victories over much larger Russian forces at Tannenburg. In recognition of this historic feat General von Francois is photographed in front of the Rumpler Taube of Lt. Canter, one of the heroic flyers of Tannenburg, and his observer at right.
This Rumpler Taube 4C has drawn a crowd at an airshow.
The Rumpler Taube 4C was usually powered by a 100 hp Mercedes D.I engine, although a 125 hp Benz Bz.II was also used.
Rumpler 4E Flying Boat

   The Rumpler 4E was a flying boat built in 1914 powered by a 150 hp Benz Bz.III engine. Records indicate that only one aircraft, Marine Number 47, was built.
Like most Rumpler designs the Rumpler 4E was well thought out and constructed, with clean lines for a biplane flying boat. Regardless of its qualities, the German Navy favored floatplanes over flying boats due to the cold waters around Germany. Floatplanes kept the crew further away from the cold water and kept them dryer and warmer.
The Rumpler 4E flying boat seemed to be much more popular with postcard publishers than with the Navy; there are three postcards of it here and a fourth on the next page.
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)
This aircraft may be the Rumpler B.I prototype. Here is Sanke card 260. The B.I was a reliable replacement for the obsolete Taube and had good flying qualities, making it suitable for training use as well as operational reconnaissance missions.
Rumpler 4A14 was developed from the Rumpler B.I by installing a 150 hp Benz Bz.III.
Rumpler B.I in left foreground in a hangar with other B-types.
The Rumpler military flying school at Muncheberg circa 1916/17. Rumpler B.I trainers crowd the hangar.
Naval Rumpler B.I S60.
Rumpler B.I B.362/15.
The Rumpler B.I was of conventional wood, wire, and fabric construction and used a 100 hp Mercedes D.I engine.
Rumpler B.I with then Vzfw. Raetsch at right.
Rumpler B.I aircraft.
Anonymous Rumpler B.I aircraft in use.
Rumpler B.I depicted in Sanke card 271. Aircraft recognition, always a problem for the infantry, was in its infancy and the aircraft is will decorated with German national insignia to identify it for the ground troops.
Rumpler B.I approaching to land. In addition to the Fliegertruppe, the B.I was used by the German Navy and 31 were sold to the Austro-Hungarian Luftfahrtruppen where they served until at least August 1918.
Rumpler B.I from the Militar Flieger Schule Muncheberg flown by Lt. Raetsch on its nose.
Rumpler C.I & C.Ia
  
   The Rumpler C.I was an armed, two-seat general purpose reconnaissance airplane designed based on the lessons learned from the very first armed two-seaters from Albatros, Aviatik, and LVG, all of which were derivatives of earlier, unarmed two-seaters. Designed to carry guns, bombs, and wireless, the Rumpler C.I had good speed and maneuverability and very good climb. Coupled with its robust construction, its good performance and versatility quickly earned it a good reputation among the aircrew who flew it.
   When it first flew in the summer of 1915, the Rumpler C.I was faster than the Fokker and Pfalz Eindecker fighters and had an equivalent climb rate. Idflieg ordered the first batch of aircraft in July 1915 and the C.I passed military acceptance testing in October. The first C.I aircraft arrived at the front in November-December 1915. Armed with both a fixed and a flexible machine gun and with performance exceeding the Eindeckers, the Rumpler C.I was an excellent combat aircraft for its time and lasted a long time at the front.
   The Rumpler C.I had a wood and fabric airframe typical of the time and was powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III or a 150 hp Benz Bz.III. Hannover built the Rumpler C.Ia powered by the 180 hp Argus As.III; speed at low levels was improved slightly at the expense of reliability and high-altitude performance. The C.Ia was used primarily on the Eastern Front, where they were not generally faced with the latest fighter opposition, and gave good service.
   Unlike similar aircraft, the C.I had a steel-tube framework integrated with the wood structure of the forward fuselage, making it stronger and more survivable in case of a crash. The robust, versatile C.I was used for a variety of experimental programs testing new wings and engines. The large, 220 hp Mercedes D.IV straight-eight was tested in the C.I, as was the first BMW.IIIa engine.
   Rumpler C.I aircraft built under license for training were powered by a variety of engines. Aircraft built for training service seldom used the 160 hp Mercedes D.III because it was needed for fighters. Re-built 150 hp Benz Bz.III engines were installed along with the 175 hp Rapp Rp.IIIa, 180 hp Argus As.III, and 185 hp Conrad C.III(Nag). Trainers with the Conrad engine were built by Germania and designated C.Ic(Germ). As far as is known, the only license-built Rumpler C.I aircraft used in combat was the Hannover-built C.Ia. Manufacturers who built the C.I for training use were Markische, Germania, Hansa-Brandenburg, the Bayerische Rumpler-Werke (owned by Rumpler), and the Flugzeugwerke Albert Rinne. Details are in the production table.
   Finally, it should be noted that the C.I airframe had such good qualities that it was used for the successful Rumpler 6B1 single-seat floatplane fighter. Despite being derived from a two-seat reconnaissance airplane, the 6B1 was as successful as the competing single-seat floatplane fighters derived from land-plane fighters.
  

Rumpler C.I Specifications
Engine: 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Wing: Span (Upper) 12.15 m
Span (Lower) 10.04 m
Chord (Upper) 1.75 m
Chord (Lower) 1.75 m
Gap 1.86 m
Area 35.7 m2
General: Length 7.85 m
Empty Weight 793 kg
Loaded Weight 1,333 kg
Maximum Speed: 152 kmh
Climb: 3000m 25 min


Rumpler C.I Production Orders
Date Qty Serials Notes
Jul. 1915 50 393-442/15
1915 4 1025-1066/15
1915 20 1588-1599/15 Other serials unk.
Oct. 1915 51 1836-1886/15
Dec. 1915 150 4515-4664/15
Mar. 1916 50 1125-1174/16
Mar. 1916 100 2600-2699/16
Sep.1916 50 Cancelled
Sep. 1916 200 4600-4699/16 Han. C.Ia
Oct. 1916 100 5400-5499/16 Mark.; trainers
Oct. 1916 100 6075-6174/16 Germ.; trainers
Oct. 1916 75 6500-6574/16 HaBra.; trainers
Jan. 1917 75 900-974/17 Han. C.Ia
Mar. 1917 200 2550-2749/17 Mark.; trainers
Apr. 1917 100 4100-4199/17 Ha-Bra.; trainers
May 1917 100 4900-4999/17 Germ.; trainers
May 1917 100 5475-5574/17 Han. C.Ia
Jul. 1917 200 2550-2749/17 Rinne; trainers
Sep. 1917 250 See Note 1 Mark.; trainers
Oct. 1917 100 14100-14199/17 Germ.; C.Ic tmrs.
Apr. 1918 150 3000-3149/18 Mark.; trainers
Jun. 1918 100 7050-7149/18 Bayru.; trainers
Jul. 1918 100 See Note 2 Li-Ho; cancelled
Oct. 1918 50 2550-2749/17 Germ.; trainers
Notes: 1. Known serials are 12820-13069/17. 2. Serial C.13074/18 from this order is known. 3. 2363 Rumpler C.I aircraft built; 463 by Rumpler, 375 by Hannover (Han.), 700 by Markishe (Mark.), 350 by Germania (Germ.), 175 by Hansa-Brandenburg (HaBra.), 100 by Bavarian Rumpler Works (Bayru.), 200 by Flugzeugwerke Rinne.
Rumpler C.I C.1064/15
Rumpler C.I C.4535/15 of Kasta 20
Rumpler C.I C4654/15
Rumpler C.I C.4607/16 in Polish service postwar
Rumpler C.I of Kasta 1
Rumpler C.I of Kasta 1
Rumpler C.I of Kasta 2
Rumpler C.I of Kasta 4
Rumpler C.I of Schusta 2
Rumpler C.I
The Rumpler 5A1 was the prototype Rumpler C.I. The slightly modified production Rumpler C.I had the factory designation Rumpler model 5A2. The rudder and fin of the production aircraft was enlarged slightly from the 5A1. The aircraft is seen in its initial form without markings at the time of initial test flights in June 1915 in front of the Rumpler factory at Johannisthal.
The Rumpler C.I prototype after national insignia were applied but before the pilot's fixed, synchronized gun was fitted. A spherical gravity tank has been added below the center section.
The Rumpler C.I prototype before the pilot's fixed, synchronized gun was fitted. The spherical gravity tank added below the center section is clearly visible. The claw brake is fitted to the axle.
The Rumpler C.I prototype after national insignia were applied but before the pilot's fixed, synchronized gun was fitted. The gunner is demonstrating his wide field of fire with a dummy wooden gun.
The Rumpler C.I prototype before the pilot's fixed, synchronized gun was fitted. The spherical gravity tank added below the center section is clearly visible. The claw brake is fitted to the axle.
Rumpler C.I 53/15 was a very early production aircraft, powered by a 160hp Mercedes D III. Armed with a fixed, pilot-aimed 7.9mm Spandau, along with the observer's 7.92mm Parabellum, the Rumpler C I was considered by many to be the best and most reliable of all C types produced. Top level speed of the machine was 94mph at sea level, while the service ceiling was around 16,600 feet. Normal range was given as 336 miles.
Rumpler C.I 393/15 was the very first production Rumpler C.I.
Rumpler C.I 1851/15 was from the fourth production batch. These were the first Rumpler C.I aircraft built with a rotating turret for the gunner, something that all subsequent aircraft featured.
This Rumpler C.I 1851/15 came down behind Allied lines and was captured.
Rumpler C.I 1869/15 draws a crowd.
Captured Rumpler C.I 4525/15 on display in France.
Captured Rumpler C.I 4525/15 on display in France.
Captured Rumpler C.I on display in France.
Rumpler C.I 4601/15 in pristine finish. The finish is not original so it has been recovered, probably after repair.
Early production models of the Rumpler C.I were powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D.III, and immediately established themselves as reliable airplanes with good performance and handling qualities. Some later production C.Is had a 150 hp Benz Bz.III or 180 hp Argus As.III.The C.I was an excellent general purpose C-type that was popular with its crews.
Rumpler C.I 1131/16 after being captured.
Rumpler C.I 1131/16 in French hands.
Rumpler C.I 4660/16 was immortalized in Sanke card 439.
Observer demonstrates his camera technique.
Camouflaged Rumpler C.I assigned to Schusta 2.
French soldiers inspect this captured Rumpler CI. By 1916 the type was an important general-purpose aircraft and was well liked by its crews. When eventually outclassed on the Western Front it went on to serve in other theatres.
Rumpler C.I trainer, under the wing is a 1918 cross.
A Rumpler C.I in training service in 1918 (per the national insignia style) is a backdrop for a unit photograph.
Rumpler and its aircrew; von Hackenberger at left.
Rumpler C.I ready for its next flight.
A Rumpler C.I in training service in 1918 (per the national insignia style) is a backdrop for a unit photograph.
Rumpler C.I ready to take off on another mission.
Rumpler C.I serving with Feld-Flieger-Abteilung 32.
Rumpler C.I observer demonstrates his weapon.
The Rumpler C.I soldiered on postwar. Willy Donner and others pose with a C.I in transport service.
This closeup of a Rumpler C.I with cowling panel removed shows the pilot's fixed machine gun. The "H" with arrow added to the photo points to the 'Hebei', the lever arm of the synchronizing mechanism.
Rumpler C.I with two 50 kg PwK bombs carried under the fuselage.
Rumpler C.Ia(Han) aircraft lined up outside the Hannover factory ready for delivery.
Rumpler C.Ia(Han) at the Hannover factory.
Rumpler C.Ia(Han) showing the distinctive built-up fuselage for the observer's gun ring unique to Hannover.
Rumpler C.Ia(Han) with the raised fuselage around the observer's gun ring unique to Hannover-built aircraft.The only license-built C.I aircraft used in combat were the C.Ia aircraft built by Hannover. All other license-built aircraft were intended as trainers.
Another view of the Rumpler C.I under test with a 175 hp Rapp Rp.IIIa engine at Adlershof.
Rumpler C.I under test with a 175 hp Rapp Rp.IIIa engine at Adlershof.
Rumpler C.I(Habra) trainer. The bulge in the lower port wing is the housing for the compass.
Rumpler C.Ic(Germ) 13013/17 during a training flight with instructor Poelke in the rear cockpit.
Rumpler CI(Mark) 3042/18 was built as a trainer. Here is is undergoing acceptance flight testing at Adlershof in 1918.
The desire to create 'low observable' or 'stealthy' aircraft difficult to detect is not new. Here a Rumpler C.I has been covered by transparent Cellon in an experiment to make it more difficult to see. Other types involved in these trials included the Fokker E.III and Linke-Hofmann R.I. However, Cellon proved to have insurmountable disadvantages. First, it was shiny, making the aircraft more visible in situations where bright sunlight illuminated it. Second, Cellon was brittle and tore easily, and it sagged when it absorbed water, ruining the aircraft's aerodynamic qualities. An interesting series of experiments, Cellon covering was quickly abandoned.
The Rumpler C.I served with the Latvian air service postwar. The finish was German camouflage-printed fabric and the Latvian national markings consisted of a red Swastika over a white background.
LVG C.II 2135/15 is at left foreground and three late-production Rumpler C.III aircraft rest in the right foreground on 16 April 1917. Interestingly, there are no insignia on the rudders of the C.III aircraft. A Rumpler C.I is in the center background with another LVG C.II at right background.
Well-known propaganda photo of a Rumpler C.I (upper right) flying over the Pyramids in Egypt. The photo of the Pyramids was actually taken by a Rumpler C.I but it could not take a photo of itself, so the C.I in the photo was added for propaganda value.
Rumpler C.I cruises serenely above the clouds.
The Rumpler C.I was a popular aircraft and is certainly a candidate for having the most air-to-air photographs taken of it of any WWI German airplane.
More of the many air-to-air photographs taken of the Rumpler C.I.
This Rumpler C.I was retired from flight duties and converted into a ground-based gunnery trainer. It is mounted on a complex platform allowing it to move for greater realism while the gunner aims at targets pulled past the trainer. A target, the silhouette of a Rumpler, is visible in the background.
Rumpler C.I 4658/15 after a landing incident.
Rumpler C.Ia(Han) 4645/16 after a landing incident. It has the distinctive built-up decking for the gun ring and camouflage of Hannover-built aircraft.
Rumpler C.I 6162/16 trainer after a bad landing.
Rumpler C.I
Rumpler C.Ia
Rumpler C.I
Rumpler C.I
Rumpler Bombers

   Rumpler produced a comparatively small number of bomber designs that saw modest production in keeping with their performance. In addition to at least three prototypes, 58 Rumpler production bombers of all types were built as detailed in the adjacent table.
   With limited engineering resources, Rumpler eventually abandoned bomber design in favor of more critical fighters and reconnaissance airplanes.

Rumpler Bomber Production
Type Quantity Serials
G.I 4 15-18/15
G.II 24 106-117/15 &. 119-130/15
G.III 30 300-329/16. See Note.
Note: Idflieg ordered 50 Rumpler G.III bombers but only 30 were built.


Rumpler 4A15

   In July 1914 Rumpler was among several manufacturers asked to develop a Kampfflugzeuge, a battleplane or aerial cruiser. The aircraft was to have a crew of two or three with a flexible gun for the observer/gunner mounted in the front cockpit, and was to have at least 200 hp.
   Rumpler's response was the 4A15, a twin-engine biplane of conventional wood, wire, and fabric construction powered by 150 hp Benz Bz.III engines mounted in pusher configuration. Each engine was mounted on the lower wing and enclosed in a nacelle housing a frontal Windhoff radiator and a 310 liter fuel tank. A gravity tank was installed above each engine. The 4A15 had a span of 18.75 m and a length of 11.8 m. The simple landing gear included a pair of wheels under each engine and another pair under the nose to prevent nose-overs on landing.
   The 4A15 first flew in March 1915 and achieved a maximum speed of 135 km/h at sea level. During informal flight demonstrations the aircraft carried ten people to 3,200 m on March 15th and then carried 16 people to 1,800 m. On 22 March the aircraft reached 2,300 m in 55 minutes while carrying 12 people. However, while flying to Munich on April 10 the 4A15 was forced to make an emergency landing and was damaged. On April 17, 1915 it was destroyed following a carburetor fire. However, during its brief life the 4A15 set the basic configuration for all Rumpler bombers that followed.


Rumpler G.I
  
   Rumpler continued bomber development with the 5A15. Based on the 4A15, the 5A15 used the same basic structure and engines but had a number of refinements. The wing span was increased slightly, the shape of the vertical tail surfaces was revised, and a single gravity tank under the top wing replaced the two separate gravity tanks over the engines. The gunner in the front cockpit was given a windshield and the rear crew member now had a flexible gun.
   The 5A15 first flew on September 4, 1915 and demonstrated acceptable performance, although flight testing revealed a number of improvements were needed. The test pilot, probably Friedrich Budig, then chief test pilot at Rumpler, complained that the fuel system was too complicated and the gravity tank was the sole feed to the carburetors, creating a single point of failure. The aircraft was also too tail heavy and the pusher propellers were subject to damage from debris thrown up by the landing gear. Inadequate clearance (4 cm) between the fuselage and the propeller arc sometimes caused the propellers to hit the screen protecting the rear gunner from the propeller arc.
   The 5A15 passed its acceptance flight on September 16, 1915, and Idflieg ordered it into limited production as the Rumpler G.I, only four aircraft being built. Photographs show the production aircraft had an enlarged rudder for better directional control after an engine failure. The very small number ordered indicates that the aircraft were primarily intended for operational evaluation. One aircraft, G.16/15, was delivered to Kampgeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung 1 (Kagohl 1) for operational evaluation, where it was flown for a time by Leutnant Ray, while two others, G.17/15 and G.18/15, served briefly that year with Brieftauben Abteilung Metz, or BAM.

Rumpler G.l Specifications
Engines: 2 x 150 hp Benz Bz.III
Wing: Span 19.3 m
Area 78.68 m
General: Length 11.8 m
Height 4.0 m
Empty Weight 1,998 kg
Loaded Weight 2,938 kg
Maximum Speed: 145 kmh
Climb: 800m 7 min
2000m 21 min
4000m 120 min
Service Ceiling: 4000 m
Range: 600 km
Armament: 1 flexible MG & 150-200 kg of bombs


Rumpler G.II

   In November 1915 Idflieg ordered 24 improved aircraft as the Rumpler G.II. The most important change was the use of more powerful, 220 hp Benz Bz.IV engines for improved speed, climb, and ceiling. The G.I airframe was used with minor modifications, but flight testing soon revealed the need for additional modifications for improved flying qualities. The prototype G.II, Rumpler internal designation 5A16, was tail heavy and insufficiently stable. Testing revealed the need for larger propellers to efficiently absorb the greater engine power, so propellers of 3.1 m diameter were fitted and the fuselage was narrowed slightly to provide sufficient clearance.
   Rumpler chief test pilot Friedrich Budig determined that modifications to the lower wing near the propellers were needed, and on May 27, 1916 large cut-outs were made in the lower wing in front of the propellers on the second production aircraft. This modification greatly reduced tail heaviness as determined by Budig during a successful test flight on May 30.
   Rumpler G.II 117/15, the last aircraft of the first production series, was fitted with more powerful 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa engines and larger propellers of 3.17 m diameter. Idflieg accepted this modified aircraft and it went on to serve with Kagohl 2 on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1916. No other G.II aircraft used this engine, but it was a harbinger of things to come in the Rumpler G.III.
   The Rumpler G.II saw much of its service with Kagohl 2. Originally formed from the Brieftauben Abteilung Metz, or BAM, in December 1915, Kagohl 2 had six Kampfstaffeln, Kastas 7-12. Five of these had single-engine C-type aircraft, but one was equipped with the Rumpler G.II and AEG G.III. Kagohl 2 was transferred to the Eastern Front in July 1916 and was eventually stationed at Lasnaja aerodrome. Kagohl 1, originally formed from the Brieftaubenabteilung Ostend, or BAO,was also transferred to the Eastern Front in June 1916, and had some Rumpler G.II aircraft along with other G-types. In September 1916 Kagohl 1 was transferred to northern Bulgaria where it flew a number of bombing missions against Romanian troops. Kagohl 2 was transferred back to the Western Front in October 1916, followed by Kagohl 1 in May 1917.
   The Rumpler G.II bombers were better armed than the C-types and on the Eastern Front were used as long-range reconnaissance aircraft and as escorts for the smaller C-types on bombing raids.

Rumpler G.II Specifications
Engines: 2 x 220 hp Benz Bz.IV
Wing: Span 19.3 m
General: Length 11.8 m
Height 4.0 m
Empty Weight 1,990 kg
Loaded Weight 2,990 kg
Maximum Speed: 164 kmh
Armament: 2 flexible MGs & bombs

  
Rumpler G.III

   The Rumpler G.II had proven itself moderately successful and Idflieg placed an order for the proposed Rumpler G.III in September 1916. Retaining the basic size and configuration of the earlier G.II, the G.III was a new design. Although wingspan was the same as the earlier types, wing area was reduced by a smaller lower wing. The engine nacelles were more streamlined and more powerful 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa engines were fitted in place of the 220 hp Benz engines of the G.II. To reduce the danger of fire the fuel tanks were now mounted in the fuselage instead of in the nacelles. Unfortunately, the weight of the new aircraft increased substantially due to increases in the empty weight and also the designed payload.
   Flight testing of the new prototype, factory designation 6G2, began in December 1916 and quickly revealed unsafe flying qualities. Like the earlier designs, the G.III prototype was tail heavy in flight. To solve this problem the horizontal stabilizer was raised and the fuselage near the plane of the propellers was modified to improve airflow, and these changes greatly alleviated the tail-heaviness. Test pilot Friedrich Budig stated the revised G.III was more stable and had better flying qualities than the G.II. However, adding the rear gunner's gun and ammunition again caused tail-heaviness, and the upper wings had to be moved rearward to restore pitch stability and trim.
   The G.III that arrived at the front in December 1916 was the aircraft assigned to Kagohl 2, which had used the earlier G.II. Some G.III bombers served into at least March 1918 with Kampfstaffel 9 of Kagohl 2.
   The final Rumpler bomber prototype, factory designation 6G4, had increased wing span and tractor-mounted 4-bladed propellers. The first test flight on 18 February 1918 indicated marginal flight characteristics when the aircraft swung to the right on takeoff and the pilot, Budig, was barely able to correct it. With extensive modifications necessary to improve its poor flying qualities and higher priority programs underway, further bomber development was abandoned.

Rumpler G.III Specifications
Engines: 2 x 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa
Wing: Span 19.3 m
Area 78.68 m2
General: Length 12.0 m
Height 4.5 m
Empty Weight 2,365 kg
Loaded Weight 3,620 kg
Maximum Speed: 150 kmh
Climb: 3000m 22 min
Service Ceiling: 5000 m
Range: 660 km
Armament: 2 flexible MGs St 225 kg of bombs
Rumpler G.I 15/15 as built.
Rumpler G.II G.109/15 assigned to Kagohl 2, summer of 1916. The black circles were identification markings painted at the unit level.
Rumpler G.II G.129/15 assigned to Kagohl 2, late 1916.
Rumpler G.III G311/16 assigned to Kasta 9, summer of 1917. The black circles with white star and black/ white wheel covers were unit markings.
The Rumpler 4A15 was the first Rumpler bomber design, and all subsequent Rumpler bombers followed its general configuration of pusher engines and simple landing gear with nose wheels to prevent nose-overs on landing. The propellers were mounted on short extension shafts.
The Rumpler 4A15 was in response to an Idflieg request for a Kampfflugzeuge, or battleplane. Powered by two 150 hp Benz Bz.III engines mounted as pushers, it set the basic configuration for all subsequent Rumpler bombers.
The Rumpler 4A15 was the first Rumpler bomber design, and all subsequent Rumpler bombers followed its general configuration of pusher engines and simple landing gear with nose wheels to prevent nose-overs on landing. The fuel tank below the engine is clearly visible. The propellers were mounted on short extension shafts.
This photograph shows the Rumpler G.I with the first design of fin and rudder, the most visible difference between the Rumpler G.I, military designation for 5A15, and 4A15. A gravity tank was also installed just below the upper wing; the main fuel tank for the starboard engine is visible mounted beneath the engine and forward of it. The fuel tank was located near the aircraft center of gravity so burning off fuel would not adversely impact the type's pitch stability.
This photograph shows the Rumpler G.I engine installation in more detail. The under-wing gravity tank and main fuel tank for the starboard engine are clearly visible. The frontal radiator was large and complex.
Rumpler entered the twin-engine bomber business with the Rumpler G.I. Nose wheels protected against nose-overs on soft fields. The G.I used 150 hp Benz Bz.III engines, but only four were built before production was moved to the more powerful G.II using the same airframe.
In this front quarter view the most visible difference between the Rumpler G.I and A415 is the windshield provided for the front gunner in addition to the gravity tank installed just below the upper wing. The front gunner's flexible machine gun is also visible.
Rumpler G.I 15/15, the first of four production machines.
This front quarter view of Rumpler G.I 16/15 shows the overall workman-like design and construction.The tents in the background indicate this is an operational aircraft at its unit.
Rumpler G.I 16/15, the second of four production machines. The most noticeable difference between this aircraft and the first G.I is the enlarged rudder with large aerodynamic balance for improved directional control with one engine out. The larger rudder was retrofitted to G.I 15/15. The engine cowlings were well streamlined. A black and white measurement bar is included in two photographs to enable measurements to be scaled from the photos.
Rumpler G.I 16/15 (Rumpler 5A15) (1915)
A Rumpler G.I on the Eastern Front with its lower starboard engine cowling removed for maintenance.
Rumpler G.I 15/15 is shown moments after lifting off during take-off. This view confirms that the enlarged rudder was retrofitted to this aircraft.
Rumpler G.I 15/15 in flight.
The Rumpler G.II was developed from the Rumpler G.I by upgrading the engines.This G.II, 117/15, the last aircraft of the first production batch of G.II bombers, is virtually indistinguishable from the G.I other than the barely visible cutout of the lower wing trailing edge. This is also the one G.II modified to have 260 h.p. Mercedes D.IVa engines, but the photo is not clear enough to show which engine type is fitted.
Rumpler G.II G.122/15 ready for a bombing mission; the bombs are already loaded under the fuselage. Only standard factory markings and insignia are visible.The snowy scene was probably at KG2 on the Eastern Front.
The most visible differences between Rumpler G.II, 117/15 and the earlier Rumpler G.I are the cutouts in the lower wing trailing edge and the white backgrounds for the iron cross insignia.The screens to protect the rear gunner from the propellers are also visible.
Rumpler G.II (5A16) (1916)
In contrast to earlier Rumpler bombers with overall light finish, Rumpler G.II G.129/15, the next to last production G.II, carries an interesting camouflage scheme, with the camouflage on the engine nacelles painted a different pattern than the fuselage. Despite the distinctive camouflage, only standard factory markings and insignia are visible. Because the factory serial number is clearly visible, the camouflage on wings and fuselage was probably painted at the factory. The straps for securing the bombs under the fuselage are clearly visible, as is the lower wing trailing edge cutout. The summer scene was probably taken at KG2 on the Eastern Front.
The Rumpler G.II was based on the Rumpler G.I airframe, but used more powerful 220 hp Benz Bz.IV engines. Performance and bomb load were improved, and 24 were built. The Rumpler G.II served on both the Western and Macedonian Fronts as a bomber. In Macedonia it was also used to escort C-types during day bombing raids.
This close-up view of Rumpler G.II G.129/15 shows its interesting camouflage scheme and engine nacelles in more detail. The camouflage appears to be sprayed on the fuselage and brush-painted on the nacelles, indicating the nacelle camouflage may have been applied at the unit. The screens to protect the gunner from the propellers are clearly shown. Although not clear, there appears to be segmented camouflage on the bottom of the upper wing.
Rumpler G.II G.l 07/15 is shown in flight over the Eastern Front while serving with KG2. The light overall finish still contrasts somewhat with the white backgrounds for the iron cross insignia. Both guns are visible as is the slight sweep-back of the wings.
Because of their heavy defensive armament, the Kagohl's first twin-engined G types of aircraft were used singly for reconnaissance duties, and when accompanying a number of smaller two-seaters on a bombing raid the inclusion of a G type guaranteed that enemy fighters would concentrate on the big machine, leaving the main bomb-carrying force almost unmolested. But a hot reception awaited the attackers. This Rumpler G II (107/15) is seen over the Eastern Front, operating with Kagohl II from Kowel aerodrome in 1916.
An unknown Rumpler G is shown in the Rumpler factory. In contrast to all available known G.I photographs, this aircraft is in overall dark finish with light engine nacelles typical of the G.II, making one think this was a production G.II. There appears to be a lower wing trailing edge cutout characteristic of the G.II series but the angle and quality of the photo preclude positive verification.
A Rumpler G.II in service with BAM (Brieftauben Abteilung Metz). Standing in the pilot's cockpit is Hptm. Fritz Prestien; the officer manning the gun is an observer named von Hachenburg. At the far right is Lt. Franz Ray, who would go on to score 17 confirmed victories as a fighter pilot. Hptm. Paul Backhaus is 3rd from right.
The Rumpler G.II was developed from the Rumpler G.I by replacing the 150 hp Benz Bz.III engines of the G.I with more powerful 220 hp Benz Bz.IV engines. This early G.II, possibly the first G.II airframe, is virtually indistinguishable from the G.I.
The more powerful Rumpler G.II was much more difficult to fly than the G.I. On 27 May 1916 large cutouts were made in each lower wing beneath the propellers on Rumpler G.II 107/15, the second G.II, as shown here. On 30 May Rumpler test pilot Friedrich Budig successfully flew this aircraft, and all subsequent G.II aircraft featured this cutout.
Then Unteroffizier Gustav Seitz poses in front of Rumpler G.II G.110/15 of Kampfstaffel 9 of KG2 at Kowel after receiving the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Again the radiators are distinctly different than those fitted to most other Rumpler G.II bombers.
Rumpler G.II G.109/15 of KG2 damaged at Lasnaja, one of two fields KG2 is known to have used on the Eastern Front, where KG2 served from mid-July to October 1916. The black circle marking is distinctive. The radiators are very different than those fitted to most other Rumpler G.II bombers, but the reason for this modification is unknown.
Rumpler G.II crash.
Rumpler G.III (6G2) (1916/17)
This Rumpler G.III shows its camouflage to advantage. The upper surfaces appear to be sprayed in two colors while the rudder is painted a single dark color and undersurfaces, struts, nacelles, and wheel covers appear to be in a single light shade. Propeller spinners are fitted, showing attention to streamlining details.
Rumpler G.III G.304/16, the fifth G.III aircraft, is shown here on a rainy day at the Rumpler factory. The two-color factory camouflage with lighter engine nacelles and undersurfaces is clearly shown.
Rumpler G.III, perhaps G.304/16? The photo looks like it could be from the same series as the other two on this page.
This front view of a Rumpler G.III emphasizes its clean lines with great attention to streamlining, a Rumpler hallmark.
This front view of a Rumpler G.III in a hangar shows a diamond insignia on the nose, which was a unit or personal marking.
This G.III is shown under construction at the factory. Although the photo quality is poor, the revised engine nacelles that now were raised above the wing like the Gotha G.V are clearly visible.
This photograph of Rumpler G.III G.311/16 of Bogohl 2 is especially interesting because, unlike most G.III photos, it shows unit markings on the nose and the wheel covers are painted half dark and half light; black and white? The aircraft is loaded for a bombing mission with P.u.W. bombs under the fuselage along with a square Kastenbombe for blast effect.
The Rumpler G.III was a new design. Its 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa engines were mounted in nacelles above the wing. Thirty G.III bombers were built. Rumpler started designing a G.IV but its engineering resources were stretched too thin designing fighters and reconnaissance airplanes, and Rumpler dropped out of bomber construction.
This front quarter view of a Rumpler G.III apparently at an operational unit shows its camouflage and clean lines to advantage. Interestingly, the rudder appears to be in two colors like the rest of the upper surfaces. The photo gives the impression of being of the same aircraft as the photo below, except the rudder appears to be in a single dark color. Are these two different aircraft or is this a trick of the light?
This rear quarter view of a Rumpler G.III apparently at an operational unit shows that the propeller spinners were not fitted. The rear gunner's gun is fitted and his cockpit appears very roomy.
Rumpler G.III photographed while serving with an operational unit.
This over-exposed view of a Rumpler G.III in flight is still interesting. The rudder and horn balance appear somewhat larger than that of the G.II and the lines are cleaner than the competing Gotha bombers.The nose landing gear used in all Rumpler bombers helped reduce the likelihood of a landing accident.
This photo taken from the front gunner's cockpit shows Rumpler test pilot Friedrich Budig (at right) flying a G.III. Only the pilot had a windscreen.
The front gunner's cockpit of the Rumpler G.III appears much more compact than the rear gunner's position despite housing a lot of equipment.
Rumpler G.I & G.II
Rumpler G.I & G.II
Rumpler G.I & G.II
Rumpler G.III
Rumpler G.III
Rumpler G.III
Rumpler 6A2

   The single-bay 6A2 was designed as a two-seat fighter. Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III, its first test flight in January 1916 revealed problematic handling qualities, but extensive experimentation and modification finally gave the 6A2 'excellent flight characteristics' according to Friedrich Budig. Unfortunately, climb rate was less than the C.I reconnaissance airplane and the wings were too 'elastic', so the X-struts were replaced with parallel struts. The 220 hp Mercedes D.IV straight-eight engine was also tried and gave very good climb rate but vibration was excessive. Records are ambiguous about whether the 160 hp Mercedes D.III was re-installed. Both flight testing and calculations indicated the 6A2 would not meet its requirements, and it was abandoned in favor of the enlarged, two-bay 6A5 prototype that became the C.III of otherwise similar appearance. The intermediate 6A3 and 6A4 were designed but probably not built.

Rumpler 6A2 Specifications
Engine: 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Wing: Span 10.20 m
Area 36.00 m2
General: Empty Weight 780 kg
Loaded Weight 1260 kg
Climb: 1000m 6.0 min
2000m 16.5 min
3000m 30.7 min
4000m 69.0 min
Ceiling: 4200m
The Rumpler 6A2 first flown in January 1916 was a two-seat fighter. The first version used 'X'-struts. (The Peter M. Bowers Collection/The Museum of Flight)
The Rumpler 6A2 was powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III. The first version shown here used 'X'-struts.
The second version of the 6A2 used parallel struts for greater torsional strength of the wing cellule giving improved aileron response and better controllability.
Rumpler 6B1 & 6B2

   The Rumpler 6B1 (known to the Navy as the Rumpler ED) was derived from the successful Rumpler C.I two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. The weight of the floats was compensated for by elimination of the observer and his equipment, and the upper wing was moved forward to compensate for the forward shift in center of gravity. Like the Rumpler C.I and Albatros W4, the 6B1 was powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III. The 6B1 retained the C.I's single fixed gun for the pilot. The prototype, Marine #751, was delivered to the seaplane testing command on 7 July 1916. After testing it was accepted on 10 August, and the first production batch of ten fighters was ordered on 14 August, followed by a further batch of 25 fighters.

Rumpler 6B2

   The Rumpler 6B1 was followed in production by the improved 6B2 that had the ability to mount two machine guns. The 6B2 also had refined aerodynamics derived from later production Rumpler C.IV aircraft that gave it greater speed; specifically the spinner was replaced by a rounded nose. Three production batches totaling 50 aircraft were ordered in early 1917. However, production was slow; the first aircraft were delivered a full ten months after being ordered, and only about half were fitted with two guns, the others mounting a single gun. Production data and other information about use suggest that by the time the 6B2 was ready, the Navy strongly preferred two-seat seaplane fighters, reducing the urgency for the 6B2 and other single-seat fighters. The 6B2 therefore saw limited operational service and was mostly used for training. Four 6B2 aircraft were sold to the Austro-Hungarian Navy, which assigned them serial numbers E1-E4.
  
Rumpler 6B1 & 6B2 Production
Marine Numbers Qty Notes
751, 787-788 3 Prototypes, C.I tailplane
890-899 10 First 6B1 production, C.IV tailplane
1037-1061 25 Second 6B1 production
1062-1066 5 6B2 pre-production
1188-1207 20 First 6B2 production
1434-1458 25 Second 6B2 production
The prototype Rumpler 6B1 after armament was fitted
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #751 after camouflage was roughly applied at Zeebrugge. The aircraft has also gained a national insignia on the fuselage. This is how the aircraft looked when flown on operations.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #1042 in standard late-war naval camouflage.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #1051 of the second 6B1 production batch.
Rumpler 6B2 Marine #1063 in standard late-war naval camouflage and markings with three white circles added as a tactical marking.
Rumpler 6B2 Marine #1066 of the pre-production batch of 6B2 fighters. By this time the standard late-war naval three-color camouflage fabric was standard on the upper surfaces.
Rumpler 6B2 Marine #1439 in standard late-war naval camouflage with a large white circle added as a tactical marking. The fin also appears to be in three-color naval camouflage fabric, perhaps resulting from a repair.
Из-за своих размеров 6В не мог вести маневренные воздушные бои с истребителями
The first prototype Rumpler 6B1, Marine #751, while at the SVK in Warnemunde.The single, fixed machinegun for the pilot has now been installed.
The first prototype Rumpler 6B1, Marine#751, while at the SVK in Warnemunde.This view shows the clean lines of this large floatplane fighter. Being a large, two-bay design derived from a reconnaissance two-seater, the 6B1 was not as fast as the competing Albatros W4 and Brandenburg KDW. However, it had a reasonably good performance and excellent handling and flying qualities; on operations it was as successful as the Albatros W4 and far more successful than the fast but tricky Brandenburg KDW.
The prototype Rumpler 6B1 photographed at the SVK at Warnemunde, where the aircraft was delivered on July 7, 1916. It was accepted on August 10, 1916, and this was quickly followed by a production order for the first batch of 10 aircraft on August 14, before the next two prototypes, 787 and 788, were completed. Someone has drawn in the outline of the fin and rudder on the original print due to the low contrast between the sky and the aircraft.
The first prototype Rumpler 6B1 while at the SVK in Warnemunde.The light color does not contrast well with the sky background, which was good for air-to-air camouflage and bad for photography. Power was provided by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine.The first three prototypes had the C.I horizontal stabilizers with straight leading edges; production aircraft had the C.IV tailplane with curved leading edges.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #788, the third prototype.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #899 was the last aircraft of the first production batch. It is seen here being hoisted by a crane for launching, something every German seaplane was equipped to do.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #1042 of the second production batch is launched into the water and is seen just leaving the launching dolly. This aircraft was assigned to Konstanza on May 15, 1917, suggesting this photograph was taken there.
Rumpler 6B1 after landing, probably Marine #1045.
The photo shows the camouflage on the upper surfaces.
The Rumpler 6B1 was one of Germany’s most successful single-seat floatplane fighters. Here an enthusiastic naval pilot puts on an aerobatic show in a Rumpler 6B1 Marine #1045. Nicely shown are the upper surfaces which are covered in the pre-printed fabric pattern. This practice was meant to spare paint and also weight. The Rumpler 6B1 was replaced in its role by the two-seat Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 in service, but was retained in the trainer role.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #1045 in flight. All 6B1 fighters except the three prototypes had the curved C.IV horizontal tail.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #1045 displays its agility for the photographer.
A Rumpler 6B1 performs for the camera. Despite being derived from a two-seat reconnaissance airplane, the 6B1 had good performance and handling and was well-liked by its pilots.
A single seat Rumpler 6B2 floatplane fighter seen at its dynamic best. A lighter version of Rumpler's C I two seater and using the same 160 hp Mercedes D III, the original 6B1 entered service with the navy in July 1916, with deliveries continuing into 1917, when replaced in production by the 6B2 seen here. Just as the 6B1 had derived from the earlier C I, the 6B2 owed its genesis to that of the two seat Rumpler C IV. Overall, a total of 98 6Bs are reported to have been delivered when building ended in January 1918, comprising 43 6B1s and 55 of the 6B2 version. The top level speed of both versions was around 95mph and each carried a single, fixed, forward-firing 7.92mm Spandau.
Rumpler 6B1 #1046 in Allied colors.
Rumpler 6B1 W4 Marine #1051 shows its dark coloring and operational markings. The 6B1 and 6B2 had good performance despite their size and had far better handling qualities than the competing Brandenburg KDW.
Rumpler 6B1 Marine #1059 serves as a backdrop for a group photograph; unfortunately, the identities of the men and dogs are not known. Either this is a very informal photograph or the photographer made this shot while setting up for the formal portrait. The Marine Number has been painted in the side of both floats to identify the aircraft, and the Axial propeller has a metal tip to reduce erosion from spray. Aviators seem to like dogs.
Rumpler 6B2 floatplanes 1439, 1062, 1063, and 1194 are lined up at either Kiel Holtenau or further east at one of the Baltic Seeflugstationen (naval air stations). Marine #1439 carries a large white circle as a tactical identification marking, while #1062 carries two white circles and #1063 carries three white circles.
Rumpler 6B2 Marine #1066 was from the 6B2 pre-production batch. From the rear it is difficult to tell the 6B1 from the 6B2. Although the 6B2 was designed to carry two machine guns, only about half the aircraft actually had two guns.
This Rumpler 6B1 has been repainted in the late, straight-sided national insignia specified by the Navy on March 30, 1918. It is being readied for a training flight at Putzig naval air station.
Austro-Hungarian Rumpler 6B2 E3 (formerly Marine #1090) is moored next to the officers' mess at Igalo naval air station. The upper surfaces of the wings are in the German naval three-color printed camouflage fabric, but unusually there are no national insignia on the upper wings.
An Austro-Hungarian Rumpler 6B2 flies over the harbor at Trieste.
Rumpler 6B2 in post-war Dutch service.
Rumpler 6B1
Rumpler 6B1
Rumpler 6B1
Rumpler 6B1
Rumpler 6B2
Rumpler 6B2
Rumpler 6B2
Rumpler C.III

   The Rumpler C.III (6A5) was a transitional production type between the better-known and more successful C.I and C.IV two-seaters. The Rumpler C.I, powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine, entered service in 1915 and was an immediate success. It was kept in production for the remainder of the war, initially as a combat aircraft, later as a trainer due to its excellent handling characteristics. Rumpler C.II was the designation reserved for a production version of the Rumpler 5A3 prototype, which was basically a modified C.I powered by a 180 hp Argus As.III engine. However, only one prototype was built and the C.II did not go into production. Further Rumpler two-seater development through a series of prototypes lead to the Rumpler C.III.
   Whereas the C.I was a general-purpose observation plane, the C.III was intended as a higher performance aircraft for high-altitude photographic reconnaissance. The basic struture of the C.III remained similar to the C.I, being a conventional wood frame covered in fabric. However, the aerodynamic design, wing planform, and airfoil section were all changed to provide better high-altitude performance. Development of the new wing cellule paced the C.III design.
   The C.III was powered by the 200/220 hp Benz Bz.IV engine, providing it with substantially more power than the C.I, again to improve speed, climb, and ceiling. In addition to the more powerful engine, the nose entry was more streamlined for lower drag, and included a large propeller spinner. The prototype featured air intakes under the nose, but these were omitted in the production aircraft.
   Unlike the earlier C.I, which had a fixed fin, unbalanced control surfaces, and good handling qualities, the prototype C.III was built with all control surfaces aerodynamically balanced to reduce control forces. To minimize weight and drag for maximum performance, the prototype C.III omitted a fixed vertical fin, something tried by many German designers. However, few designs without a fixed fin were successful due to inadequate directional stability, and the C.III was no exception. During its production run the C.III was subject to continuing revision to its control surfaces to improve its flying qualities. Like the prototype, all control surfaces on early production C.III aircraft were aerodynamically-balanced, and there was no fixed fin. Mid-production C.III aircraft changed to a fixed fin and unbalanced rudder to improve flying qualities. The ailerons were revised at the same time, when C.III aircraft were fitted with a fixed fin the ailerons were changed to unbalanced. Initially the balanced elevators were retained. The final production C.III aircraft eliminated the elevator balances to further improve flying qualities. There are several photos of crashed early configuration C.III aircraft after control problems, indicating the C.III control changes were necessary.
   The C.III was fitted with the standard C-type armament, a fixed, synchronized gun for the pilot and a flexible gun for the observer. To make the type more versatile, a small bomb bay was built into the starboard side of the observer's cockpit. The prototype C.III had an unusually shaped turtledeck behind the observer's cockpit; this may have obstructed the observer's field of fire and was replaced in production aircraft by a conventional turtledeck.
   The Rumpler C.III first appeared at the front at the end of 1916, and by the end of February 1917 42 were at the front. Although the C.III had better performance than the C.I, its handling characteristics were less pleasant and the control modifications mentioned above had to be introduced on the production line. Within two months the number of C.III aircraft at the front dropped to 22 as the C.III was quickly replaced by the more powerful Rumpler C.IV, and by the Autumn of 1917 the C.III had virtually disappeared from the front. Unlike the viceless C.I, the C.III did not go on to an extensive career as a trainer.

Production and Service

   The Rumpler C.III was built in small numbers. In July 1916 150 aircraft were ordered, but only 49 were built with serials 1863/16 to 1911/16. Serial 1912/16 was the prototype C.IV. The other 100 aircraft from that order may have been changed to the C.IV. From photographic evidence the transition from the early configuration (no fixed fin, all controls balanced) to the final configuration (fixed fin, all control surfaces unbalanced) took place at some point between serials 1869/16 and 1898/16 (although 1903/16 retained the balanced elevators of the mid-production configuration; apparently serial numbers were not always assigned in production order).
   Only one C.III was at the front at the end of 1916, but two months later the inventory had jumped to 42. Thereafter C.III numbers at the front went into rapid decline as the more powerful Rumpler C.IV, which possessed significantly better performance, replaced it. The Rumpler C.IV quickly gained a reputation as the best German long-range reconnaissance aircraft, a reputation the C.IV and its derivatives retained throughout the war. All the Rubild Rumplers used the C.IV airframe, which was essentially the final production C.III airframe with unbalanced control surfaces.

In Retrospect

   Development of the Rumpler C.III, especially the wing cellule, to achieve the best high-altitude performance was challenging. Handling and structural problems plagued production C.III aircraft, requiring a series of revisions to its control surfaces during production. Moreover, a more powerful engine than the 200/220 hp Benz Bz.IV was needed to achieve the airframe's full potential.
   Thus from an operational perspective, the Rumpler C.III was, at best, a marginal success.
   However, from a development perspective, the C.III was a great success. It was the operational testbed for the airframe that, once developed, lead to the legendary C.IV and its related family of aircraft.
   The Rumpler C.III was thus a transitional design between the highly-regarded, easy to fly general-purpose C.I and the high-performance C.IV. Although the C.III served at the front in modest numbers, its most significant role was that it introduced and refined the basic airframe used by the more powerful C.IV and its family of derivatives, which were the best German long-range reconnaissance aircraft of the war.

Rumpler C.III Specifications
Engine: 200/220 hp Benz Bz.IV
Wing: Span 12.66 m
Area 34.8 m2
General: Length 8.20 m
Empty Weight 839 kg
Crew 160 kg
Fuel 105 kg
Military Load 164 kg
Useful Load 520 kg
Loaded Weight 1,264 kg
Maximum Speed (at 2,000 m): 136 kmh
Climb: 2000m 16 min
Service Ceiling: 4000m
Range: 480 km
Rumpler C.III First Prototype
Rumpler C.III Second Prototype
Rumpler C.III Early Production
Rumpler C.III 1873/16 "6" of Flieger-Abteilung 19 in original markings.
Rumpler C.III 1873/16 "6" of Flieger-Abteilung 19 in 1918 markings and, apparently, one-color upper surface camouflage..
Rumpler C.III of the Wireless Operators Training School
A Rumpler C.III prototype is shown here. Although it looks very similar to the later and more well-known C.IV, it has a curved rudder without fixed fin, and had inadequate directional stability. The raised decking behind the observer's cockpit was soon replaced by a conventional design. All controls were aerodynamically balanced.
This side view of the Rumpler C.III prototype emphasizes its clean lines. Although all controls are aerodynamically balanced, the curved rudder without fixed fin is clearly too small. The photo was taken on 22 August 1916.
The Rumpler G.III prototype is ready for a flight with both crewmen. The streamlined nose entry, including large propeller spinner, shows the design team's search for better performance through reduced drag.
Only the under-nose cooling air intakes and radiator over the engine mar the Rumpler C.III prototype's clean lines. Test instruments are mounted on the front, outboard, starboard interplane strut.
Powered by the 200 hp Benz Bz.IV, the prototype Rumpler C.III shows its refined lines in front of the Rumpler factory. The C.III was a transitional type that underwent continual modifications to improve performance and flying qualities. Production machines had a normal turtledeck behind the observer, perhaps for a better field of fire. Many German designs initially omitted a fixed fin, probably to minimize weight and drag, but this almost always led to stability problems that had to be solved by addition of a fin; the Rumpler C.III was no exception. Early production machines had no fin; later production machines had a fin. All controls were aerodynamically balanced.
The Rumpler C.III prototype seen from the front quarter shows its marked resemblance to the later C.IV. Several cooling intake vents underneath the nose differentiate this prototype from the production C.III and later C.IV. Test instruments are mounted on the front, outboard, starboard interplane strut. The propeller was made by Axial.
The supplementary air intakes seen beneath the nose on the Rumpler C.III prototype in its original configuration have now been eliminated, and only a modest grill beneath the nose remains. The turtle-deck is also conventional now; this appears to the configuration for the early production C.III.
The unusual turtle-deck behind the observer's cockpit seen on the Rumpler C.III prototype in its original configuration has now been replaced by a conventional turtle-deck, most likely to give the observer a less obstructed field of fire. The aerodynamically-balanced ailerons and elevators are clearly visible.
The Rumpler C.III prototype taking off on a test flight at the Rumpler factory.
This appears to be an early production Rumpler C.III at the front. There is still no fixed fin but the turtledeck is conventional and the supplementary cooling intakes beneath the nose seen on the prototype are also gone. The iron cross national insignia now have white outlines instead of being applied over a square white background. The ailerons and elevators retain their aerodynamic balances.
Early production Rumpler C.III 'F15' is from the wireless operator training school. Again it has no fixed fin and no supplementary cooling intakes beneath the nose. The iron cross national insignia have white outlines and the overall color is darker than the typical Rumpler factory camouflage of the time. The dark characters 'F15'on the fuselage side have been outlined in white for greater visibility.
This rare late production Rumpler C.III lasted at the front until early 1918 as indicated by the Balkenkreuz insignia. The rudder is now white. It also carries the unit insignia of Flieger Abteilung 19. The names Tetzner and Schneider were written on the back of the photograph; were these the crewmen?
Rumpler C.III 1873/16 of Flieger-Abteilung 19 rests between missions. Only one C.III remained at the front into 1918 and, from the late national insignia, it was probably this aircraft.
Rumpler C.III 18xx/16 illustrates the intermediate production configuration. It has the revised vertical tail with fixed fin to improve stability, and both the ailerons and rudder are now unbalanced. However, the elevators are still balanced. This transition took place sometime between serial 1869/16, an early configuration machine, and 1898/16, representing the final production configuration.
LVG C.II 2135/15 is at left foreground and three late-production Rumpler C.III aircraft rest in the right foreground on 16 April 1917. Interestingly, there are no insignia on the rudders of the C.III aircraft. A Rumpler C.I is in the center background with another LVG C.II at right background.
This photo shows Rumpler C.III 1898/16 after it landed near Elverdinghe on 31 August 1917 and was given the British captured aircraft designation G66. Examination of factory component markings revealed the upper wing was manufactured on 16 Nov. 1916 and the lower wing was manufactured on 27 Nov. 1916. Despite being slightly damaged, the camouflage and markings are nicely visible. This Rumpler C.III represents the final production configuration; all control surfaces are unbalanced. It looked very much like a Rumpler C.IV; the real differences were the engine and the squared-off lower wing tip planform so clearly shown here.
This photo shows Rumpler C.III 1898/16 after it landed near Elverdinghe on 31 August 1917 and was given the British captured aircraft designation G66. Examination of factory component markings revealed the upper wing was manufactured on 16 Nov. 1916 and the lower wing was manufactured on 27 Nov. 1916. Despite being slightly damaged, the camouflage and markings are nicely visible. This Rumpler C.III represents the final production configuration; all control surfaces are unbalanced. It looked very much like a Rumpler C.IV; the real differences were the engine and the squared-off lower wing tip planform.
Side view of an early Rumpler C.IV prototype, perhaps the first, shows the unusual rear fuselage fairing behind the observer's cockpit that was later removed. There is no propeller spinner and no opening for a fixed gun for the pilot. It looks very similar to the Rumpler C.III prototype and was clearly designed at nearly the same time.
Side view of an early Rumpler C.IV prototype, perhaps the first, shows the unusual rear fuselage fairing behind the observer's cockpit that was later removed. It was similar to the C.III prototypes. There is no propeller spinner and no opening for a fixed gun for the pilot. It looks very similar to the Rumpler C.III prototype and was clearly designed at nearly the same time. Replacement of the 200 hp Benz Bz.IV with the 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa was the key difference between the types.
An early-production C.III has suffered a rough landing. This view shows a window in the cockpit floor and a control rod under the fuselage.
Late-production Rumpler C.III 1898/16 after it landed near Elverdinghe on 31 August 1917.
Feldwebel Niemeier of Fl.Abt. (A) 250 suffered control failure during a flight in this early-production C.III, w/n 1497. Unfortunately, the military serial number is not visible in the photo. The C.III was designed as lightly as possible for the best climb and ceiling, and numerous modifications had to be made to strengthen the airframe based on experience.
Rumpler C.III 1903/16 shows its revised vertical tail with fixed fin and balanced elevators, representing the middle production configuration. Lightly built to achieve high altitude, it has suffered damage to the rear fuselage and balanced elevators. Both C.III and early C.IV aircraft, which shared their airframe, had to be modified at the factory to strengthen the rear fuselage. Later C.IV airframes included these changes in production.
On 17 January 1917 pilot August Quoos suffered control failure during a test flight near Colmar in this production C.III, work number 1466, and suffered this crash landing as a result. Unfortunately, the military serial number is not visible in either photo.
Early-production C.III work number 1474 has suffered a bad landing - and again the military serial number is not visible in the photos! The large number of crash photos of production Rumpler C.III aircraft despite the relatively small number built is an indication that further development of the control system and flying qualities was needed.
Early-production Rumpler C.III 1869/16, work number 1470, is down in the snow, likely as a result of a bad landing. The pilot's fixed gun, factory camouflage and aerodynamically-balanced controls are clearly visible.
Rumpler C.III
Rumpler C.III
Rumpler C.III
Rumpler C.IV Family

   Starting with its Taube series and continuing through its excellent C.I, Rumpler had made a name for itself. Production of the transitional C.III had been a challenging episode as Rumpler worked to sort out the airframe to achieve satisfactory airframe strength and flying qualities. Ultimately, the C.III was limited by its engine and more power was needed to get the full potential for its airframe. Availability of the new 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa was the solution. Rumpler combined that powerful new engine with the C.III airframe to create the milestone Rumpler C.IV, the airplane that made Rumpler famous during the war. The new engine, coupled with a refined airframe based on the late-production C.III, endowed the C.IV with unexcelled high-altitude performance and created a family of aircraft that were the best strategic reconnaissance airplanes fielded by Germany during the war.
   The prototype C.IV, Rumpler type 6A7, which made its first flight in late September 1916 appears to have been closely related to the prototype C.III airframe, but production C.IV aircraft used the late-production C.III airframe with greater strength and better flying qualities. Construction was the typical wood, wire, and fabric for the time but carefully engineered for minimum weight. The most visible difference between the early production C.IV and late production C.III was the planform of the lower wing tips; that of the C.III was squared off, whereas the C.IV used a rounded 'dragonfly' wing profile. The rounded wing planform reduced the induced drag (drag 'induced' by lift due to creation of wake turbulence) and, together with the higher power of the new engine, gave greatly improved high-altitude performance.
   On October 18, 1916, the C.IV prototype climbed to 5,000 m in 33 minutes with full combat load, including fuel for 316 hours, and achieved a speed at that altitude of 165 km/h. This was very impressive performance for the time and the C.IV was quickly ordered into production. Type testing was done in mid-January 1917. On February 10 the C.IV was approved for production and service with the caveat that the heavy aileron control forces would be alleviated by the 101st production aircraft.
   In late February the first Rumpler C.IV aircraft reached the front. Flieger-Abteilung 18, for example, received five Rumpler C.IV aircraft as early as February 21. FA 18 and other units equipped with the C.IV quickly acknowledged the excellent high-altitude and long-range performance of the C.IV. However, they also complained that the lightly-built airframe was not robust enough to endure the strong engine vibrations, prevent aerodynamic forces from twisting the fuselage during maneuvering, and preclude rear fuselage factures from the rigors of front-line use, all issues that first appeared in the Rumpler C.III. Despite testing that showed the fuselages to be sufficiently strong according to the specification then used, both the C.III and C.IV were withdrawn from the front in mid-April 1917 and returned to the factory for re-building. The rear fuselages were reinforced and plywood panels replaced much of the fabric.
   Aerodynamic research continued as aircraft were produced, and wind tunnel testing revealed that lower drag and higher speed could be achieved by eliminating the propeller spinner. This counterintuitive result was applied to the production line starting in May 1917, and later production C.IV aircraft - and all the derivative types listed in the family table - were built with a rounded nose without spinner. The result was a welcome 10-15 km/h speed increase.
   Early production C.IV aircraft were equipped with a control stick for the pilot. For some reason this was not fully satisfactory, and beginning in May-June 1917 production aircraft had a control wheel.
   In action the Rumpler C.IV promptly made a name for itself as the C-type with the best performance. Together with the robust, tractable DFW C.V, the Rumpler was the most useful German two-seater due to its high performance and good maneuverability. However, the Rumpler C.IV also proved itself to be a handful for pilots due to its slow aileron response and propensity to stall, which was often abrupt and unforgiving. One Rumpler pilot ferrying his aircraft to the front spun from 3,200 m to 800 m before he could recover, a very large altitude loss in a biplane.
   The C.IV was modified by the substitution of different engines to further improve ceiling and speed at altitude and also used different cameras, equipment, and long-range fuel tanks for enhanced strategic reconnaissance capability. These modifications included use of the 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa over-compressed engine starting in April 1917. The ceiling of C.IV aircraft with this engine was eventually raised to more than 7,000 m. In late 1917 the 260 hp Basse &. Selve BuS.IVa became available and Idflieg allocated these engines to the Bayerische Rumpler Werke (Bayru); these aircraft were sometimes known as the Rumpler C.IV(BuS). Bayru also built the C.IV with the original Mercedes engine. Interestingly, the 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa, the first engine installed in the C.IV, had to be rotated clockwise (as seen from the cockpit) a few degrees to fit without its intake manifold interfering with the left cabane struts.
   At first there were no designation changes to reflect these modifications, but the designations of later production aircraft were changed for this reason. The table on page 71 summarizes the various designations and modifications of aircraft in the C.IV family that used the C.IV airframe. The Pfalz-built Rumpler C.IV(Pfal) was the only type that could be easily distinguished from the basic C.IV because it had ailerons on all four wings to improve roll control. The ailerons were connected by actuating struts. The C.IV(Pfal) was intended as a trainer - the reason its aileron control was improved - but a few apparently saw operational service at the front.
   In fact, unless a photograph shows the designation painted on the aircraft, these aircraft (other than the C.IV(Pfal)) are virtually indistinguishable from the basic C.IV. The only visible difference between the various types is the visible portion of the engine, which is difficult to distinguish with certainty. This is a major contributor to the fact that the later members of the C.IV family are not well known. Another contributor is that they were seldom met in combat because Allied fighters only rarely could intercept them. Even when an interception occurred, they looked like the normal C.IV to the Allied pilot. A final contributor to the identification challenge is that different types were built together within the same production batch and range of serial numbers. Engine installation depended on availability, and the airframe was modified on the production line as necessary for the engine and equipment to be installed. If airframes and serial numbers were documented according to aircraft type, which depended on the engine and equipment fitted, this information has not come to light.
   The first three C.IV aircraft equipped with the Messter strip cameras were so modified in April 1917, but factory deliveries of Reihenbildflugzeuge (strip photography aircraft) did not begin until that October. These aircraft flew at altitudes up to 7,000 m where the air temperature was -50° Centigrade on flights 5-6 hours long. The extreme cold experienced by the aircrews required electrically-heated flying suits and primitive oxygen breathing apparatus.
   In July 1917 aircrews started to report being attacked by single Allied fighters at these high altitudes; some responses included removing the pilot's fixed gun to reduce weight and polishing the wing fabric to increase speed. The Allied fighters involved were certainly powered by the Hispano-Suiza V-8 as rotary-powered fighters did not have the ceiling to reach a Rumpler.
   Top British ace James McCudden specialized in intercepting Rumplers and stated that his personal attention to his SE.5a (he was an aircraft mechanic before becoming a pilot) enabled him to fly much higher than the typical SE.5a, which could rarely climb above 17,000 feet in winter; he was thus able to intercept surprised Rumplers that the typical SE.5a could never reach. Once attacked, experienced Rumpler aircrews often saved themselves by retaining their high altitude, at which they were as fast as an SE.5a. If the Rumpler pilot lost altitude during the combat the fighter gained the advantage and had a much greater likelihood of downing the Rumpler.

In Retrospect

   The Rumpler C.IV and its derivatives based on its airframe were the best German high-altitude reconnaissance airplanes and are among the most famous aircraft of the war. Edmund Rumpler and his company are famous above all for the performance of the exceptional C.IV family.


Rumpler Aircraft Using the C.IV Airframe
Designation Engine Notes
Rumpler C.IV 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa 260 hp Basse & Selve BuS.IVa Developed from earlier C.III, many different equipment installations. Early production aircraft had propeller spinners.
Rumpler C.IV(Pfal) 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa Originally designated Pfalz C.I, license-built C.IV with ailerons on all four wings for training use
Rumpler C.V 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa Bomb racks
Rumpler C.VI 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa Equipped with Messter strip camera; later re-designated Rubild
Rumpler C.VII 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa
Rumpler C.VIII 180 hp Argus As.III Operational trainer not intended for combat. Different lower wings
Rumpler C.IX 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa Long-range fuel tank
Rubild 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa New designation for C.VI
Rubild Mb 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa Rubild equipped with Maybach engine
   The Rumpler C.IV was modified with a number of different engines and carried a wide variety of equipment. Initially these aircraft were all designated Rumpler C.IV, but in late 1917 new designations were applied to aircraft fitted with different varieties of engines and equipment. This table summarizes these variations of engines, equipment, and associated designations for the aircraft that were all based on the same airframe.


Rumpler C.IV Specifications
Engine: 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa 260 hp Maybach Mb.IVa
Wing: Span (Upper) 12.66 m
Span (Lower) 12.1 m
Chord (Upper) 1.83 m
Chord (Lower) 1.33 m
Gap 1.85 m
Area 34.8 nr
General: Length 8.40 m
Height 3.20 m
Empty Weight 1,017 kg
Useful Load 580 kg
Loaded Weight 1,630 kg
Maximum Speed: 175 kmh
Climb (Mercedes): 1000m 4 min
2000m 7.5 min
3000m 13 min
4000m 19 min
Climb (Maybach): 1000m 3 min
2000m 6.5 min
3000m 11.5 min
4000m 16.5 min
5000m 24.5 min
6000m 37.5 min
Service Ceiling: 6800m
Range: 585 km


Rumpler C.IV Family Orders
Date Qty Serials Notes
1 1912/16 C.IV Prototype
Sep.1916 100 8203-8301/16 C.IV
Sep.1916 150 6675-6824/16 C.IV
Oct. 1916 150 7500-7649/16 Pfalz-built C.IV
Nov. 1916 150 8403-8558/16 C.IV
Nov. 1916 50 8900-8949/16 Bayru-built C.FV
Jan. 1917 150 See Note 1 Pfalz-built C.IV
Feb. 1917 100 1420-1519/17 C.IV
Feb. 1917 100 See Note 2 Bayru-built C.IV
June 1917 100 6400-6499/17 c.vn
July 1917 100 7600-7699/17 C.IV & C.VII
July 1917 400 7950-8349/17 C.IV/C.VI/C.VII
July 1917 200 Unknown Bayru-built C.IV
May 1918 200 3150-3349/18 See Note 3
July 1918 100 4000-4099/18 See Note 3
July 1918 100 7900-7999/18 See Note 3
Oct. 1918 50 12200-12249/18 Rumpler C Mb
Notes: 1. Serials 550-699/17 not confirmed. 2. Known serials 2746-2820/17. 3. Combined C.IV, C.VII, Rubild, Rubild Mb
Rumpler C.IV C.6715/16 of Flieger Abteilung 19
Rumpler C.IV C.6785/16
Rumpler C.IV C.8288/16
Rumpler C.IV with Lion marking
Rumpler C.IV C.8500/16 of Flieger-Abteilung 7
Rumpler C.IV C.1449/17 of an unknown unit was a very colorful aircraft.
Rumpler C.VI C.8254/17
Rumpler C.IV C.8461 of Flieger-Abteilung 208
Rumpler C.IV of Flieger Abteilung(A) 209
Rumpler C.IV of Flieger Abteilung(A) 209
Rumpler C.IV of Flieger-Abteilung 235
Rumpler C.IV in camouflage printed fabric
Early production Rumpler C.IV 6692/16 in factory finish. Other than its use of the Mercedes D.IVa engine and the rounded planform of the lower wings, from the side it looks very similar to a late-production Rumpler C.III. (The Peter M. Bowers Collection/The Museum of Flight)
Fitted with the 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa six-cylinder engine, the graceful Rumpler C.IV was as fast as Allied fighters at its ceiling, where few fighters could reach it. It became the premier German long-range photo-reconnaissance airplane. Over-compressed engines designed for more power at higher altitude maintained its edge throughout the war. The Rumpler C.IV airframe was also used for the specialized lichtbild (photo) aircraft.This early-production Rumpler C.IV of Flieger Abteilung 19 is barely distinguishable from a late-production Rumpler C.III. Later production C.IV aircraft discarded the propeller spinner and gained speed due to reduced drag. The high-flying Rumpler C.IV is the best-known Rumpler aircraft of the war and probably the most important.
Early production Rumpler C.IV 6745/16 in factory finish shows its clean lines.
Early production Rumpler C.IV 6770/16 and crew.
Early production Rumpler C.IV 6820/16 in factory finish prepares for another mission.
Early-production Rumpler C.IV with flight crew and early national insignia.
Rumpler C.IV C.8288/16 wears a skull and cross- bones marking, something seen far more commonly on fighters than reconnaissance airplanes. The proud crew is enjoying the moment.
Rumpler C.IV with early national insignia and painted camouflage is lined up with the rest of its unit.
"Румплеры" C-IV одной из разведывательных эскадр западного фронта
An early-production Rumpler C.IV is a fine backdrop for this group portrait; another rests in the background. The high-flying Rumplers were effective German reconnaissance aircraft as they were able to escape most attackers by taking advantage of the ceiling of 21,000ft (6,400m).
Early-production Rumpler C.IV in factory finish.
A nonchalant crew photographed with their Rumpler. The arrow marking on the side and top of the fuselage is the unit marking of Flieger-Abteilung 7.
Maybach-engined Rumpler C.IV 1423/16 tactical number '4' of Flieger-Abteilung 7. Although having the same tactical number, this may be a different aircraft then that shown above; notice the arrow markings on the upper wings not on the airplane above. Of course, the upper wing arrows may have been added after repair. From this batch onward the type designation, in this case 'C.4', was added to the serial number to distinguish the sub-types of the family. Roman numerals were used after this batch.
Crudely retouched postcard of Rumpler C.IV 8428/16 (w/n 2276) captured by the French. The aircraft was on display at the Place Jean Bart in Dunkerque. As evidenced by the white arrow unit marking this was a Fl. Abt. 7 aircraft. It was thoroughly studied by the French.
Later production Rumpler C.IV 8476/16 in factory painted camouflage has the new nose contours without spinner. Eliminating the spinner reduced drag and added 10-15 km/h to the aircraft's speed.
Rumpler C.IV 1454/17 of FA(A) 209 was brought down by Sous-Lt. Covin of SPA 31 on Oct. 24,1917; its crew was made PoW. Here it is seen after French markings were applied. A small, nonstandard pointed spinner is fitted to the propeller; the unit may have added this.
Rumpler C.IV 7610/17 in American hands in 1918 as shown by the straight-sided Balkenkreuz, apparently after repairs. It had the Mercedes D.IVa engine typical of the C.IV.
Rumpler C.VI 8254/17 has a flare rack for the observer and is covered with printed camouflage fabric.
Rumpler C.IV 8424/16 Dalila of the first production batch undergoes maintenance.This early production C.IV is the subject of Steve Anderson's cover painting. LVG C.V aircraft are on both sides of Dalila.
Rumpler C.IV 8485/17 of FA(A) 219 wears an interesting camouflage scheme. Like the earlier C.III from which the C.IV got its airframe, the C.IV was lightly designed for minimum weight to maximize climb and ceiling. The result was the airframe had to be locally strengthened a number of times based on operational experience.
Colorfully-marked Rumpler in late insignia
Is this a case of before and after? Rumpler C.IV tactical number '3' of Flieger-Abteilung 1 with crew on facing page above and after coming down behind Allied lines in other photos, although the first photo may be a different aircraft. Rumpler C.IV C.8500/16 with 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa was captured on 29 December 1917, brought down at Monchy by ground fire. Given the capture number G.117, it was closely examined and was the basis of the report in Jane's All the World's Aircraft. It is in the early factory finish plus the unit insignia of the arrows on the fuselage sides and top. The eyes painted on the nose are thought to be individual markings. Unfortunately, the photos were taken after the iron cross national insignia had been painted over with roundels.
This late-production Rumpler had a wind-driven electrical generator to power the crew's electrically-heated flying suits.
Rumpler C.IV of Flieger-Abteilung (A) 209 carries a wicker supply cannister. When dropped the canister descended by parachute. Flieger-Abteilung (A) 209 also used AEG N.I night bombers for this purpose.
Close-up view of a Rumpler C.IV; the unusual straight-tube observer's gun mount is visible.
This early-production Rumpler C.IV retains the straight bar observer's gun mount.
The crew of this Rumpler C.IV appeal for kindness with their markings "Good People don't shoot". In case that appeal does not work the observer has a machine gun on an unusual straight mounting. One pilot told the author he chose to fly Rumplers instead of fighters because he "just didn't have the heart to dive down on an unsuspecting enemy and shoot him down."
The crew of this Rumpler C.IV delivers Christmas dinner. This photo gives a better view of the unusual mounting for the observer's flexible gun.
Another view of a Rumpler C.IV delivering packages to the front. Despite use of the unusual observer's gun mounting, which must have caused more drag than standard mountings, this appears to be a different aircraft, or at least a different occasion, than that above.
Rumpler C.IV of Flieger-Abteilung 18; Lt. Heinz Lubarsch was the observer.
Printed lozenge fabric on a late-production Rumpler.
The ground crew photographed with their Rumpler. The triangle marking on the fuselage side appears to be the unit marking of Flieger-Abteilung (A) 209, although the colors are reversed from their usual presentation.
Both reconniassance units and fighter units had unit markings, but personal insignia were more common in fighter units. Here a Rumpler in early factory camouflage, with paint chipping off the fabric, proudly displays a lion personal marking. Details of the unit and crew are not known, but one wonders if this was a Bavarian lion.
A mid-production (no spinner but wearing painted camouflage instead of fabric printed with the lozenge pattern) Rumpler seems to be the center of attention for this busy gathering. Crewmen in flight clothing indicate it is either ready for flight or has just returned.
Confident flight crew photographed by their Rumpler.
A German aviator in his primitive electrically-heated flying suit and face shield to prevent frostbite.
Rumplers flew long missions at extreme altitudes, and their crews were subjected to subzero cold in open cockpits, so heavily-insulated flying gear, often electrically heated, together with protective masks were needed to prevent frostbite. These scenes of crewmen preparing for flight illustrate some of their specialized flight equipment, including electrically-heated flight suits, gloves, and face masks.
Rumpler C.IV on a snowy airfield at Minsk, Russia.
An interesting collection of two-seaters, typifying the equipment of 1917-18. In the foreground is a Rumpler C IV, the other aircraft being a Rumpler C VII, a Hannover CL IIIa and a D.F.W. C V.
Two Rumplers are lined up in this well-known photograph with a Hannover CL.II and DFW C.V in the background. Unusually, the early Rumpler nearest the camera, C.IV 8267/16, is covered with printed camouflage fabric. The second Rumpler, C.IV 6695/16, was sent back to "Lager West" from AFP 6 in April 1917 for strengthening of the rear fuselage.
After the war Rumpler used both C.I and C.IV aircraft in a short-lived airline, Rumpler Luftverhehr (Rumpler Air Traffic). Here D72 shows its heritage of clean lines in March 1919. Its route of Berlin-Augsburg-Munich is painted on the fuselage.
An experimental Rumpler C-type with a massive, 345 hp Austro-Daimler V-12 engine installed. Fitted with this powerful engine provided by Austria-Hungary, the airplane was delivered to the Austro-Hungarian Luftfahrtruppen and given serial number 00.01. It crashed and was not repaired. Unfortunately, there is no record of its performance with this powerful engine, but it may have been somewhat nose heavy.
Control wheel in a Rumpler cockpit; early-production aircraft had a control stick for the pilot.
Later production Rumpler C.IV 1449/17 has suffered a landing accident. It wears standard factory camouflage enhanced with red/ white/black (German national colors) markings on the fuselage, wheel covers, wing struts, and nose, making it much more colorful than most Rumplers.
Early-production Rumpler C.IV after a bad landing. The aircraft has the typical factory painted camouflage finish for early production aircraft.
Rumpler C.IV tactical number '4' of Flieger-Abteilung 7 after a rough landing.
Rumpler C.IV x693/1x, probably 6693/16, of FA(A) 209, brought down behind French lines. When Rumpler C.IV aircraft were used for general two-seater duties at lower altitudes they were more vulnerable to fighters and anti-aircraft fire.
Rumpler C.IV 7955/18 serving with FA304b after a bad landing.
The unusual observer's gun mounting is visible on this crashed Rumpler, supporting its identification as an early production C.IV.
Crash of Rumpler C.IV 8512/16. The Swastika is aft of the one on the C.VII.
Steve Anderson's evocative painting of the famous Rumpler C.IV, the aircraft for which Rumpler is still known today. C.IV 8424/16 Dalila was from the first C.IV production batch. Only the highest-performance Allied fighters had any hope of intercepting a Rumpler C.IV if it was on a high-altitude reconnaissance mission. At high altitude the aerodynamic Rumpler C.IV was as fast as Allied fighters and had a good chance of besting them in combat.
Rumpler C.IV
Rumpler C.IV
Rumpler C.IV
Rumpler 7C1

   "Everything is set on achieving the greatest possible performance, particularly with regard to climbing ability and speed." (Edmund Rumpler)

   Extreme designs and their performance indicate the leading edge of technology for their time. However, racing automobiles and record-breaking aircraft are rarely practical on a daily basis; the main production emphasis is generally on what is practical and useful. In the case of long-range reconnaissance aircraft that must have the speed, climb, and ceiling to avoid interception, the leading practical WWI German aircraft was the Rumpler C.IV and its derivatives that shared its airframe. Evolution of the C.IV airframe into something lighter, more compact, and streamlined culminated in the excellent Rumpler C.X that appeared too late to see operational service. This section profiles another Rumpler design for the same role that pushed the state of the art too far. Like its single-seat counterpart the 7D1, the Rumpler 7C1 could not be developed into a practical production aircraft and is an example of what is sometimes ruefully known as the 'bleeding edge' of technology.
   Postwar Edmund Rumpler stated, "Before the end of the war the latest new developments needed to totally diverge from those of the previous types." This applied particularly to completely new aircraft types, whose flight performance was to be substantially increased. Preliminary planning had begun as early as the beginning of 1916; however, actual flight testing took place in 1917 and 1918.
   Intended for the long-range reconnaissance role was an optimized, extremely light and aerodynamic biplane layout, with Idflieg (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen = Inspectorate of Flying Troops) requirements of a minimum ceiling of at least 5,000 meters and a maximum speed of at least 165 km/h at that altitude. Preliminary plans for the 7C1 reconnaissance plane and its 7D1 single-seat fighter counterpart envisioned a short fuselage with an oval cross section, single-bay wing surfaces that organically flowed from the fuselage, small rudder without fixed fin, and smooth, streamlined surfaces. Rumpler had stipulated circular fuselage cross-sections since 1911, but no Rumpler series production aircraft had used it yet. Experience with the strength and rigidity of single-bay wings was first provided to the Rumpler design team by their 5DDD biplane followed by the Rumpler 6A2 prototype aircraft.
   At the end of November 1916 a mockup of the front fuselage section for the Rumpler 7C1 and 7D1 was completed for demonstration purposes. The factory mockup exhibited extremely lightweight construction and uncompromising effort to achieve the lowest aerodynamic drag - characteristics later displayed in the postwar Rumpler Tropfen-Auto streamlined automobile. The fuselage had an oval cross section with extremely thin stringers. Separate upper wing panels bent downward at the wing root in gull-wing configuration to rest directly over the completely enclosed 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine. The engine was mounted within the fuselage under the integrated cabane structure, which also included the radiator. For this design method Rumpler obtained a patent in 1919, which noted "with mid-wing monoplane aircraft the fuselage enclosing the engine is used for attaching the upper wing."
   In December 1916 Idflieg contracted Rumpler to build three prototypes. In January 1917 these three prototypes, the two-seat 7C1 and the 7D1 and 7D2 single-seat biplanes, were under construction. The wings of all three aircraft were braced with a single I-strut. The fuselage nose started with a large propeller spinner blended into the fuselage contours. The plywood-covered empennage was entirely cantilevered and without fixed fin to save weight. According to a patent issued in early 1915 the fuselage received a double-layer covering of Cellon-soaked fabric, diagonally wrapped, that was extremely light and resistant to warping.
   During the flight tests, which took place from March through August 1917, the prototypes demonstrated a top-speed of 170 km/h, noteworthy considering the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine used. The flight tests also showed, however, that the sophisticated aerodynamics detracted from the handling of the aircraft. The broad I-Struts and the cabane structure integrated into the fuselage obstructed the pilot's view. The cabane structure also negatively affected the flow of air from the propeller, so that the engine did not achieve its full revolutions, and thus its full power.
   There were other practical difficulties. During installation the engine had to be slid in from the front, and during routine maintenance it was nearly inaccessible. In addition, test pilot Friedrich Budig determined during the first flight with the 7C1 that the rudder and ailerons worked irregularly. Aileron ineffectiveness was largely due to use of a worm-gear actuating mechanism, rare among aircraft designs.
   Moreover, directional stability was inadequate due to the short fuselage and lack of a fixed fin. After attachment of a fixed fin brought insufficient improvement, the fuselage was lengthened. Pitch stability was improved because the tailplane had an inverted wing profile but was still insufficient, particularly when the airplane lost speed, which caused the nose to pitch up. Lateral stability was sufficient, but the limited aileron effectiveness gave marginal control and a slow roll rate. The effect of the ailerons improved somewhat after the outer portion of the aileron washout was bent downward. Finally, the aircraft were plagued with in-flight vibration and twisting of the fuselage, clear indications that the light-weight structure was not robust enough for combat operations.
   Even before flight testing was completed, development of a two-seat fighter based on the 7C1 was considered. Contrary to initial planning, Idflieg communicated on 15 May 1917 that it required a "non-bomber reconnaissance aircraft as a replacement for the 7C1." Rumpler proposed that altitude tests should be undertaken as soon as possible, which were to be conducted by test pilot Gustav Basser. Among the structural alterations considered it was determined that the aircraft should be "an X-Strutter like the 6A2." However, despite this suggestion, the I-struts remained in place.
   Despite a reference stating the Rumpler 7C1 saw limited production as a batch of 20 aircraft designated Rumpler C.IX, this is highly unlikely. First, no photos have been found of such an aircraft in service; such photos surely would have been taken given the striking appearance of the 7C1. Second, the late Peter M. Grosz, dean of WWI German aircraft historians, stated that the Rumpler C.IX was in fact based on the Rumpler C.IV and C.VII airframe, with power from a 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa engine and equipped with a long-range fuel tank. Third, the long, troubled, and ultimately unsuccessful development of the companion Rumpler 7D1 fighter design into the Rumpler D.I has also been well-documented by Peter M. Grosz. Compared to the extensive information and photographs of that protracted development, the trail of the 7C1 stops with a photograph of the attractive last version of the design with large fixed fin and test pilot Gustav Basser in the cockpit.

In Retrospect

   The extensive development difficulties that prevented the Rumpler D.I from reaching operations despite intense engineering work apparently derailed the Rumpler 7C1 even earlier in its development in favor of the more practical Rumpler C.X. Rather than totally diverging from existing types as Edmund Rumpler favored, the successful C.X was an evolutionary design. In contrast, the unsuccessful 7C1 diverged too far from existing types.
   The 7C1 also suffered from a common malady of German and Austro-Hungarian aircraft designs in both world wars; trying to save weight with a tail that was too small and a fuselage that was too short. The result was an unstable design that had to be modified with larger tail surfaces and longer fuselage for safe flight characteristics.
   Moreover, by mid 1917 it was certainly realized that, for performance competitive with powerful late-war fighters, a photographic two-seater would require a much more powerful, and thus larger and heavier, engine than the 160 hp Mercedes D.III in the 7C1. In fact, this should have been obvious in 1916 when the 7C1 was being designed because Rumpler itself was building the more powerful C.III and C.IV. This lack of foresight made a complete redesign necessary and, with the intractable D.I undergoing development along with other types, Rumpler did not have enough engineering resources for that.
   The delicate, highly aerodynamic design of the Rumpler 7C1 was more appropriate to a racing or record-breaking aircraft than a robust, reliable frontline combat aircraft.

Rumpler 7C1 Specifications
Engine: 160 hp Mercedes D.III
The first version of the Rumpler 7C1 without fixed fin, featured the so-called Libelle (Dragonfly) form lower wing, is seen in the Rumpler factory. The Rumpler 7C1 and 7D1/2 prototypes were a search for the ideal aerodynamic form.
Rumpler 7C1 (1st version without fixed fin) (1917)
The completed Rumpler 7C1 prototype in January 1917 shows its elegant streamlining. The I-struts and tail unit without fin look too fragile for the harsh demands of front-line operational service.
The sleek, advanced lines of the first version of the Rumpler 7C1 are shown to advantage in this snowy scene taken in January 1917. Already fitted with its 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine, the 7C1 is shown awaiting wing installation.
Rumpler 7C1 (2nd version with fixed fin) (1917)
The prototype Rumpler 7C1, featured the so-called Libelle (Dragonfly) form lower wing, after a fixed fin was added to improve directional stability looks much more convincing than the initial configuration without fixed fin, February 1917. Although the fin improved directional stability, the fuselage also had to be lengthened to achieve satisfactory results. Pitch stability was improved by the lengthened fuselage but was still insufficient; pitch-up was experienced when the aircraft lost speed.
The 7C1 prototype was later modified with fixed fin but the aircraft still resembled a racing airplane and was too extreme for production. Its handling qualities were poor and strength was inadequate for operational service.
Edmund Rumpler in front of the fuselage structure of the 7C1 during the fabric band wrapping process. Two layers of fabric were wrapped diagonally around the framework in opposite directions.
Load test for the horizontal stabilizer of the Rumpler 7C1.
The Rumpler 7C1 fuselage formers were elaborately shaped.
Rumpler Aircraft Using the C.IV Airframe
Designation Engine Notes
Rumpler C.VII 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa
Rubild Mb 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa Rubild equipped with Maybach engine
Rumpler Rubild Mb 8186/17 flown by Lt. Oskar Seitz with dual guns for observer
Rumpler Rubild Mb 8222/17
Rumpler C.VII
Rumpler C.VII with large camera; serial and unit unknown
Rumpler Rubild 8322/17
Late-production Rumpler C.VII covered with printed camouflage fabric.
Late-production Rumpler C.VII covered with printed camouflage fabric.
Rumpler Rubild Mb 8186/17 flown by pilot Lt. Oskar Seitz. Seitz was instrumental in designing the custom observer's gun mounting that combined a captured Lewis machine gun with the standard Parabellum for additional firepower to defend against Allied fighters. The aircraft has lozenge camouflage fabric on the wings and horizontal tail with painted fuselage and late-style national insignia.The '1' on the fin was a tactical marking.
More details of the custom double gun mount fitted to Rumpler Rubild Mb 8186/17.
Another Rumpler observer whose gun has a telescopic sight.
Both ailerons of Rumpler C.VII 8107/17 are drooping, indicating the control cables are disconnected. Late-style national insignia date the photo in 1918.
Another view of Rumpler Rubild Mb 8186/17 flown by pilot Lt. Oskar Seitz.
Rumpler Rubild Mb 8222/17 landed in Switzerland, perhaps in preference to delivering the aircraft to the Allies.
Late-production Rumpler C.VII covered overall with printed camouflage fabric.
This early-production Rumpler C.VII in Allied hands wears painted camouflage.
Late-production Rumpler C.VII 7927/18 in British hands after the Armistice.
Late production Rumpler Rubild Mb 12212/18 in British hands after the war. It has the late factory finish of overall lozenge printed fabric.
Late production Rumpler Rubild Mb 12212/18 in British hands after the war. Doubtless this was a welcome opportunity for some British fighter pilots to finally get a close look at an airplane type few of them had ever seen at close range due to its exceptional ceiling and speed at altitude.
Rumpler Rubild Mb 8231/17 in French hands postwar.
A Rumpler C.VII with Swastika personal marking and massive camera between the cockpits.
Rumpler C.VIII

   The Rumpler C.VIII was a training version of the Rumpler C.IV. To conserve high-power engines it used a 180 hp Argus As.III instead of the 260 hp Mercedes. The lower wing profile was similar to the Rumpler C.I and C.III rather than being rounded like the C.IV. The C.VIII was intended to give trainees the experience of handling a high-performance two-seater before they reached operational units instead of relying on obsolete aircraft. The C.VIII passed its Typenprufung (type test) on 24 November 1917, some 200 being ordered initially (12400/17 to 12599/17). Postwar the C.VIII was used by other countries, especially the Netherlands, which purchased 40 aircraft in April 1918.
  
Rumpler C.VIII Specifications
Engine: 180 hp Argus As.III
Wing: Span (Upper) 12.22 m
Span (Lower) 10.40 m
Area . 35.7 m2
General: Length 7.10 m
Height 3.20 m
Empty Weight 874 kg
Useful Load 580 kg
Loaded Weight 1,374 kg
Maximum Speed: 145 kmh
The Rumpler C.VIII was a trainer derived from the C.IV but with a lower-power engine not in high demand at the front. It was designed to give trainee pilots the experience of handling a high-performance two-seater before arriving at their front-line unit. The lower wingtip was squared off, not rounded like that of the C.IV.
Rumpler C.VIII trainers serving with the Netherlands. The Netherlands was a major user of the Rumpler C.VIII and purchased 40 aircraft before the Armistice. Germany sold these aircraft to purchase 5,000 horses from the Netherlands.
Rumpler D.I

   The story of the prolonged development of Rumpler's only production land-based fighter, the D.I, and all the prototypes that led up to it is a story of great vision and innovative engineering that ultimately failed to produce a practical fighter despite intensive effort.
   Design studies for the Rumpler single-seat fighter began in early 1916 in parallel with its two-seat, high-altitude reconnaissance counterpart, the 7C1. Like the 7C1 the fighter prototype, known internally as the 7D1, was based on extensive investigation into new aerodynamic features supported by new structural techniques. To achieve the desired climb, ceiling, and speed at altitude the aircraft had to be very light and streamlined. As a result the 7C1 and 7D1 prototypes resembled aircraft designed for breaking speed and altitude records and did not have the flying qualities and robust structures needed for practical combat aircraft.
   By November 1916 Rumpler was able to build a mock-up of the 7D1 and the next month Idflieg ordered three prototypes of the fighter. Like the 7C1, these were powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D.III, then the best available fighter engine. Idflieg required a climb to 5000 m in 33 minutes and a maximum speed of 165 km/h at that altitude, and also required installation of supplementary oxygen for the pilot, proof that exceptional climb and ceiling were planned.
   Rumpler completed the 7D1 prototype (and an 'identical' 7D2 which is otherwise unknown) in spring 1917. The 7D1 was a highly-streamlined biplane with top wing supported by the engine cowling. It was built with a series of light-weight fuselage stringers covered with doped fabric for streamlining and light weight. Single I-struts on each side braced the wings and only two bracing wires were used for each bay.
   Flight test were disappointing. Not only did the engine cowling obscure the pilot's forward vision, a serious problem for any aircraft and especially for a fighter, but the airflow interference between the propeller and the cowling and upper wing structure prevented the engine from developing its full RPM and thus its full power. Moreover, the buried engine was virtually inaccessible for maintenance.
   As a result, Rumpler designed a revised prototype with conventional center-section, the 7D3 (according to chief test pilot Friedrich Budig). The 7D3 was probably not successful because little is known about it, and the following 7D4 prototypes were much more widely tested. The first 7D4 prototype, powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III, was flight-tested in October 1917 and demonstrated a climb to 5,200 m in 20 minutes, an exceptional rate of climb for a fighter powered by a water-cooled, in-line engine.
   Two different 7D4 prototypes competed at the First Fighter Competition in January 1918, two years after start of development. The U-strut 7D4 prototype climbed to 5,000 m in 23.8 minutes, and the parallel-strut 7D4 climbed to the same altitude in 28.0 minutes. The significantly slower climb of the parallel-strut 7D4 motivated the development team to focus on the U-strut configuration for the production fighter. By this time Idflieg had designated the Rumpler fighter as the Rumpler D.I regardless of the details of internal company designations. Pilots at the competition were impressed by the Rumpler fighter's climb but reported it was excessively touchy and difficult to fly.
   According to engineer Theo Rockenfeller the Rumpler 7D5 was a fighter fitted with an automobile-type radiator in the nose that was built and tested; unfortunately, nothing else is known about it. The 7D6 was a cantilever quadraplane fighter design of late 1917 that fortunately was not built. The next Rumpler prototype fighter to fly was thus the 7D7, which appeared too late to compete at the First Fighter Competition.
   The 7D7 design was modified from the U-strut 7D4 by using a new airfoil and smaller control surfaces. The smaller cockpit was moved forward 35 cm and the inefficient airfoil radiator used in the 7D4 prototypes was replaced by a pair of ear radiators attached to the fuselage above the lower wing. The new radiators initially were not effective and significant engineering work had to be done to fix the problem. The improved 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine was used, and flight tests showed the 7D7 was faster than the 7D4 and demonstrated a climb to 5,000 m in 18 minutes, a significant improvement over an already impressive climb rate.
   The Fokker D.VII won the First Fighter Competition and went on to win fame over the Western Front. The Rumpler D.I, now based on the 7D7 prototype, was viewed as promising enough that Idflieg ordered an evaluation batch of 50 aircraft, something that was also done for the Roland D.VI and SSW D.III. The Rumpler D.I production batch was given serials D.1550/18 to D.1599/18.
   The D.I, based on the 7D7, underwent Idflieg’s standard test and evaluations procedures starting in February 1918. Load tests lasted from February 22 to May 1 with a number of failures and fixes during that time. The summary report of May 18 called for additional reinforcement of various items, indicating that the Rumpler team had left little margin for error when designing the aircraft for minimum weight. The light-weight fuselage of the 7D7 twisted during flight maneuvers, and flight tests in April 1918 revealed problematic flight characteristics. Idflieg stated that the type was "unacceptable for the front and would be rebuilt."
   To solve the fuselage twisting problem and improve flight characteristics, a completely new, stronger fuselage design had to be used for the production fighters. The revised design, based on a fuselage wrapped diagonally with strips of plywood similar to the Wimpelrumpf technique developed by LFG Roland, was known internally as the 8D1, and it became the basis for the production Rumpler D.I.
   Three Rumpler D.I production fighters based on the 8D1 design competed at the Second Fighter Competition in May-June 1918. Two of these, D.1552/18 and D.1553/18, were powered by the overcompressed 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIau high-altitude engine. Flown by Gustav Basser, these climbed to 5,000 m in 18.7 minutes, an excellent performance. Despite the excellent climb rate, the front-line pilots who tested the Rumpler D.I agreed that it was wholly unsuitable for combat use; it did not glide well, oscillated in flight, and the flying surfaces vibrated and made the pilots feel insecure about the aircraft's structural strength.
   The aileron control came in for particular criticism. In the D.I the linkage between the pilot's stick and the ailerons was a worm-gear transmission that turned control rods in the wing. It was light and created no drag, but the resulting aileron control was slow and erratic. Such a control system might be acceptable in a racing or record-breaking aircraft but not in a fighter; fast, consistent roll control is essential to a fighter in combat. Disappointed, Idflieg decided that testing and evaluation should continue but mass production was out of the question until the aircraft was improved.
   A parallel Idflieg flight evaluation on production airframe D.1550/18 was summarized on September 9, 1918 and stated that the D.I fitted with aerodynamically-balanced ailerons (the 8D1) flew much better than its predecessor (7D7) with unbalanced ailerons. Maneuverability was very good and most in-flight vibrations were eradicated, but the aircraft was not easy to land and roll-rate was still slow.
   Moreover, Idflieg identified 42 installation faults with the prototype! While most were not serious and fairly easy to remedy, the great number of defects calls the competency of the Rumpler design team, and especially its management, into question. What had the design team been doing since the start of type-testing in February?
   During load testing between September 16 and October 2 on production airframe D.1550/18 the airframe failed the vertical nose dive requirement and a 4 mm drag cable had to be installed between the U-strut and the nose to pass the test. But the aileron control mechanism failed again, a critical deficiency in a fighter.
   Rumpler D.I 1581/18, powered by a 185 hp BMW.IIIa over-compressed engine, was entered and flown at the Third Fighter Competition. This was the only D.I powered by a BMW engine, which was fitted especially for the Third Fighter Competition that specified use of the BMW. The aircraft reached 7,000 m in 26.9 minutes, 8,000 m in 53.3 minutes, and was the only fighter in the competition to reach 8,200 m. The climb and ceiling were clearly superior and flying qualities were reported as good, and the Rumpler D.I was declared one of the two winners of the competition (the other winner was the Fokker V29 parasol monoplane derivative of the Fokker D.VII). However, the D.I was appraised as of limited use in a dogfight against other fighters because it lost height in turns and spun easily, and the short fuselage limited rudder effectiveness.

In Retrospect

   Although the D.I had potential as an interceptor, by the Armistice only 22 production aircraft had been built and the type had still not passed military acceptance requirements! Extolled as a 'super plane' by the postwar German aeronautical press, the D.I was never a practical front-line fighter. The basic design was too extreme and despite great effort and the investment of tremendous engineering resources, Rumpler was simply unable to develop the aircraft into an effective, combat-worthy fighter.


Rumpler 7D7 Specifications
Engine: 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa
Wing: Span Upper 8.42 m
Span Lower 7.38 m
Chord Upper 1.32 m
Chord Lower 1.09 m
Gap 1.365 m
Area 16.66 m2
General: Length 5.75 m
Height 2.56 m
Empty Weight 615 kg
Loaded Weight 805 kg
Maximum Speed (at 5000 m): 180 km/h
Climb: 5000m 23.7 min


Rumpler D.I (8D1) Specifications
Engine: 185 hp BMW.IIIa
Wing: Span Upper 8.42 m
Span Lower 7.38 m
Chord Upper 1.32 m
Chord Lower 1.09 m
Gap 1.365 m
Area 16.66 m2
General: Length 5.75 m
Height 2.56 m
Empty Weight 615 kg
Loaded Weight 805 kg
Maximum Speed (at 5000 m): 180 km/h
Climb: 5000m 13.2 min
6000m 17.8 min
7000m 26.9 min
8000m 53.3 min
Ceiling: 8200m
Rumpler 7D7 during its type testing at Adlershof, Feb. 1918.
Rumpler 7D7 work number 4299, April 1918.
Rumpler D.I 1553/18 competed the Second Fighter Competition.
Rumpler D.I 1581/18, the only D.I to use a BMW.IIIa engine, was co-winner of the Third Fighter Competition.
Rumpler D.I D-288 flown postwar by Robert Ritter von Greim.
Rumpler D.I D-289 flown postwar by Ernst Udet.
The Rumpler 7D1 prototype at Johannisthal in the spring of 1917 shows great attention to streamlining. Unfortunately, the engine cowling not only obscured the pilot's forward vision, it also interfered with the airflow from the propeller, preventing the engine from achieving its full RPM and thus its full power.
The Rumpler 7D3 prototype was photographed in December 1918 at the Breslau Industrial Fair, for which it was repainted. Built in mid-1917, it had a conventional center section and parallel interplane struts.The cut-away skin on the fuselage reveals the original construction method was retained.
Two Rumpler 7D4 fighter prototypes were tested at the First Fighter Competition; the parallel strut version shown. Both were powered by the Mercedes D.IIIa engine. Based on further research applied to the Rumpler C.IV, these had no propeller spinner. The nose and tail of these aircraft are now covered in thin plywood for increased strength. The photo was taken 24 January 1918 at the start of the First Fighter Competition.
Two more views of the Rumpler 7D4 fighter prototypes that were tested at the First Fighter Competition. The parallel strut version is shown here. Both were powered by the Mercedes D.IIIa engine. The U-strut version was selected for further development. The 7D4 prototypes had an aerodynamic balance for the rudder. (Photo from The Peter M. Bowers Collection/The Museum of Flight)
Two Rumpler 7D4 fighter prototypes were tested at the First Fighter Competition; the U-strut version shown. Both were powered by the Mercedes D.IIIa engine. Based on further research applied to the Rumpler C.IV, these had no propeller spinner. The nose and tail of these aircraft are now covered in thin plywood for increased strength. (Photo from The Peter M. Bowers Collection/The Museum of Flight)
The U-strut version of the Rumpler 7D4 fighter prototype at the First Fighter Competition. Oblt. Hermann Goring is thought to be the pilot in the cockpit.
Two more views of the Rumpler 7D4 fighter prototypes that were tested at the First Fighter Competition. The U-strut version is shown here. Both were powered by the Mercedes D.IIIa engine. The U-strut version was selected for further development. The 7D4 prototypes had an aerodynamic balance for the rudder.
The Rumpler 7D7 prototype was powered by a 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine. None of its controls were aerodynamically balanced. Production D.I fighters normally had horn aerodynamic balances.
The Rumpler 7D7 fighter prototype was developed from the U-strut version of the 7D4. The rudder now has no aerodynamic balance.
These front views show the ear radiators mounted above the lower wing on the Rumpler 7D7 prototype to advantage. The earlier 7D4 prototypes had airfoil radiators that were not satisfactory.
The Rumpler 7D7 prototype with anemometer airspeed indicator mounted on the left interplane strut. The 7D7 retained the innovative Rumpler wrapped fuselage which proved insufficiently robust during flight evaluations.
The Rumpler 7D7 prototype was powered by a 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine. None of its controls were aerodynamically balanced. Production D.I fighters normally had horn aerodynamic balances.
Rumpler D.I 1553/18 (w/n 4402, factory designation 8D1) competed in the Second Fighter Competition. Powered by a 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine, it lacked the aerodynamic balances on the ailerons seen on other production D.I fighters. With the 8D1 Rumpler finally abandoned the wrapped fuselage construction it had developed in favor of a stronger, but heavier, fuselage with the fabric replaced by plywood to eliminate tail twisting in flight.
Rumpler D.I 1553/18 (w/n 4402, factory designation 8D1) competed in the Second Fighter Competition. Powered by a 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine, it lacked the aerodynamic balances on the ailerons seen on other production D.I fighters. With the 8D1 Rumpler finally abandoned the wrapped fuselage construction it had developed in favor of a stronger, but heavier, fuselage with the fabric replaced by plywood to eliminate tail twisting in flight.
Two Rumpler D.I fighter prototypes were entered in the Second Fighter Competition. Both were powered by the Mercedes D.IIIa engine. D.I 1589/18 here was photographed postwar so the guns have been removed.
Rumpler D.I 1581/18 (w/n 4430) was the Rumpler entry in the Third Fighter Competition. To compete in the competition, which was for fighters powered by the BMW.IIIa engine, it was fitted with a BMW engine. All other Rumpler fighters were fitted with Mercedes engines. The bump under the fuselage may have covered a liquid-oxygen breathing system.
Ernst Udet (left) and Edmund Rumpler in front of Rumpler D.I 1589/18 postwar
Rumpler D.I D-289 photographed in March 1919 at Munich while being flown in an airshow by Ernst Udet, a famous Pour le Merite ace credited with 62 victories. Rumpler had given D.I fighters to 28-victory ace Robert Ritter von Greim and Ernst Udet after the war for flight demonstrations. Udet's D.I was all red with "Rumpler" on the fuselage, probably in black. The "D" on the rudder was black, with "289" a lighter color. (The Peter M. Bowers Collection/The Museum of Flight)
Had the war continued, the Rumpler D.I might have been produced in quantity in 1919 for the German Air Service as a high-altitude fighter - if Rumpler could ever manage to get it to meet acceptance requirements. This aircraft, civil registration D-109, was owned by the Bayerische Rumpler Werke.
The Rumpler D.I went through a lengthy development process and never made it to the front despite having a favorable performance. That didn’t stop a number of Germany’s top pilots from flying it in the postwar era in mock dogfights and other competitions. Here Oblt. Robert Ritter von Greim readies for a flight. Another ace who flew it regularly in the postwar era was Ltn. Ernst Udet, who flew dazzling aerobatic displays.
Robert Ritter von Greim is shown here in his personal Rumpler D.I, civil registration D-288, in which he gave flight demonstrations postwar. The fuselage was silver with two red stripes, the colors he used on his fighters during the war, and the word "Rumpler" was apparently in black.
Mockup of the forward fuselage section of the Rumpler 7D1 in November 1916 shows the interesting structure and integration of the engine into the cabane structure. The difficult engine installation and restricted maintenance access are evident.
Fuselage construction of the Rumpler 7D1 on February 6, 1917. The stringers were covered with two layers of fabric strips applied diagonally in opposite directions after being soaked in aircraft dope. This method was patented by Rumpler in 1915 and was an attempt to blend strength with minimum weight.
Factory drawing of the Rumpler D.I fuselage structure.
A formal aircraft identification chart was created for the Rumpler D.I fighter, a clear indication that operational service was intended. The chart shows the 7D7 prototype because all control surfaces are unbalanced; the production Rumpler D.I (factory designation 8D1) had horn-balanced ailerons.
Rumpler D.I
Rumpler D.I
Rumpler D.I
Rumpler C.X

   The Rumpler C.X was the last production type in a long line of successful Rumpler two-seaters. The Rumpler C.I, powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine and its contemporaries, entered service in 1915 and was an immediate success. It was kept in production for the remainder of the war, initially as a combat aircraft, later as a trainer. The C.III, powered by the 200 hp Benz Bz.IV engine, entered service in 1916, only to be quickly superceded by the even more powerful and successful C.IV.
   Rumpler continued development of C-type aircraft throughout the war. While more radical designs like the 7C1 were explored, all production aircraft evolved from earlier designs and all later operational types used the basic C.IV airframe. At the beginning of 1918, Rumpler tested the prototype 8C12, with 260 hp Daimler D.IVa engine and the wing cellule of the C.IV, but with two 'U'-profile interplane struts. Upon test flying the 8C12, it was determined that it had an unsatisfactory climb performance. Test pilot Friedrich Budig was surprised at these results as, when compared to the experimental 6A7 aircraft (prototype C.IV), the 8C12 prototype had been computed as having an additional 57 kg of propeller thrust. Due to the reduced drag it was calculated that the required climb should have been possible with 230 hp.
   Since the propeller efficiency was obviously not reduced, Budig decided to introduce measures to make the aircraft more aerodynamic. Like the prototype C.I, he decided to change the angle of attack of the wings. The result was that the aircraft's climbing performance improved by about one minute.
   The prototype 8C13 received likewise the 260 hp Daimler D.IVa engine, but used the wing cellule of the C.VII. From this aircraft the prototype 8C14 was developed in early 1918 that became the series version of the Rumpler C.X. Its 260 hp Maybach Mb.IVa engine was completely enclosed in an aluminum cowling. The compact, almost oval fuselage was only 6.9 meters long and well streamlined. The wings were staggered and connected by 'X' struts, which tilted outward at the top. The wing spars, manufactured from pine, had a double 'T' cross-section. In contrast to the lower wing, the upper wing had neither sweep nor dihedral, and had a span of 10.50 meters and balanced ailerons. The lower wing span was 9.00 meters. The cantilever tail unit had a short, straight dorsal fin, which was built as an integral part of the fuselage. The rudder was relatively narrow and had a right-angled vertical trailing edge. The horizontal tail unit had the proven negative airfoil curvature.
   In the summer of 1918 the C.X prototype was damaged in a crash landing. Despite this setback, the test program was not affected. With an empty weight of 950 kg the aircraft was lighter than the earlier C.IV. The smaller wing and single-bay bracing were responsible for much of the weight saving and also reduced drag. With the over-compressed 260 hp Maybach engine coupled with a lighter, more aerodynamic airframe than the C.IV, the C.X had a maximum speed of 195 km/h and a service ceiling of 7,800 meters, which it could reach in 59 minutes. Thus the C.X was by far the highest flying and fastest German C-type aircraft of the war. "Based on this performance we now received an order," said Gustav Basser in August 1918. However, only a few examples were built and tested by the end of the war.
   The Rumpler C.X had the performance to carry on the Rumpler tradition of being the leading German long-range reconnaissance aircraft, but the war ended before it could reach operations.

Rumpler C.X Specifications
Engine: 260 hp Maybach Mb.IVa
Wing: Span (Upper) 10.50 m
Span (lower) 9.00 m
Chord (Upper) 1.80 m
Chord (Lower, mid- wing) 1.40 m
Area 29.0 m1
General: Length 6.90 m
Empty Weight 957 kg
Useful Load 435 kg
Loaded Weight 1,385 kg
Maximum Speed: 195 kmh
Climb: 6000m 27.0 min
7800m 59.3 min
Service Ceiling: 7800m
Range: 585 km
Rumpler C.X prototype
Rumpler C.X (8C14) (1918)
The handsome Rumpler C.X was developed from the earlier Rumpler designs. Its more compact, single-bay design gave better speed, climb rate, and ceiling than earlier Rumplers but it entered production too late to see service.
The Rumpler 8C12 prototype eventually led to the 8C14 design that was given the military designation Rumpler C.X. Whereas the production C.X clearly used a new airframe, the 8C12 prototype appears to have used an airframe from a standard Rumpler C.IV as illustrated by the flat-sided fuselage and C.IV tail surfaces. However, the wings were modified with U-struts for interplane bracing similar to those on the Rumpler 7D7 fighter prototype.
Sometime in the summer of 1918 the Rumpler C.X prototype suffered damage during a forced landing, but this did not delay development.
Rumpler C.X
Rumpler C.X
Rumpler C.X