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

Hannover C IV
   Completed early in 1918, the C IV was Hannover's first standard two-seater design. It utilised the 245 h.p. Maybach engine to achieve high-altitude performance, but as this aircraft was no improvement on the Rumpler, it did not go into production. Although fuselage construction was similar to that of the earlier CL series, the singular "I" style interplane and centre-section strut arrangement is of interest. Possibly two prototypes were constructed. The straight-edged patee crosses with their unusually wide outline, on the machine illustrated, were unique. Engine: 245 h.p. Maybach Mb IV. Span, 12.56 m. (41 ft. 2 1/2 in.). Length, 7.8 (25 ft. 7 1/8 in.). Area, 33.6 sq.m. (363 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 960 kg. (2,112 lb.). Loaded, 1,395 kg. (3,069 lb.). Speed, 160 km.hr. (100 m.p.h.) at 2,000 m. (6,560 ft.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 4.5 min. Ceiling 9,000 m. (29,520 ft.). Duration, 3 hr. Armament, one Parabellum and one Spandau machine-gun.

C.Owers, J.Herris Hannover Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 46)

Hannover C.IV

  Dorner entered the Idflieg C-class Competition held at Aldershof during April-May 1918, for a high-altitude long-range reconnaissance aircraft. His C.IV was powered by a 245-hp Maybach Mb.lVa engine for high-altitude performance. Slightly larger and heavier than the CL.IIIa the centre-section struts were of "I" shape and the unusual wing struts raised Idflieg concerns. A single I strut inclined inwards with another supporting the wing overhang giving the appearance of a "V" in front view. The wings had sweepback. The machine had a large spinner and retained the biplane tail. Armament was a single synchronised machine gun for the pilot and a machine gun on the rear gun ring for the observer.
  The C.IV passed its Typenprufung on 19 March 1918, and was approved for service but only five C.IV biplanes were built. The machine showed no improvement on the Rumpler C.VII (Rubild) and so did not go into production. A slightly modified C.IV was evaluated at the Aldershof test centre in June but did not receive a contract. There is no evidence that the C.IV was the basis of the F 3 post-Armistice civil aircraft produced by Hannover as stated in some publications.


Hannover Aircraft Orders & Production, 1915-1919
Type Known Serials Quantity Comments
Hannover C.IV - 5 Type test March 1918
Notes: 1. Often quoted as only 1 C.IV built.


Hannover C.IV Specifications
Source 1 2 3
Dimensions in m
Span upper 12.5 12.56 12.56
Span lower - - 11.40
Length 7.84 7.8 -
Height 2.95 - -
Wing Area in m2 33.6 33.6 -
Weights in kg
Empty 930 960 -
Loaded 1,350 1,395 -
Speed in kph
Max 163 160 at 2,000 m -
Landing 87 - -
Climb in min
to 1,000 m - 4.5 -
Ceiling in m - 9,000 -
Endurance in hr - 3 -
Engine 265-hp Maybach 245-hp Maybach -
Source:
1. Hawa-Nachraichten, Hannoverschen Waggonfabrik A.G., Hannover-Linden. 1920-21, December.
2. Grey, P &. Thetford, O. German Aircraft of the First World War, Putnam, UK, 1962, P.156.
3. Idflieg drawing of C.IV.


Hannover Aircraft Specifications
Type CL.II CL.III CL.IIIa C.IV
Engine 180 hp Argus As.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III 180 hp Argus As.III 245 hp Maybach Mb.IVa
Span, m 11.95 11.70 11.70 12.56
Length, m 7.80 7.58 7.58 7.84
Height, m 2.75 2.80 2.80 2.95
Wing Area 33.8 m2 32.7 m2 32.7 m2 33.6 m2
Empty Wt., kg 750 741 750 960
Useful Load, kg 360 340 360 435
Gross Wt, kg 1,110 1,081 1,110 1,395
Max Speed, km/h 165 160 165 160
Time to 1,000 m 6.1 minutes 5.3 minutes - 4.5 minutes
Time to 2,000 m 13.8 minutes 11.1 minutes - 8.7 minutes
Time to 3,000 m 23.9 minutes 19 minutes - 13.2 minutes
All the above types carried a fixed, synchronized gun for the pilot and a flexible gun for the observer.