M.Dusing Germania Flugzeugwerke and its Aircraft (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 41)

Germania Taube (Observation Aircraft/Trainer)

   Despite innovative elements, such as the wooden band tube technology, Egwin Leiber's early designs did not have any significant success. Neither the already mentioned Taube with a 50 hp four-cylinder Argus engine (1912) nor the other Tauben (doves) with a 100 hp six-cylinder Argus engine, a few of which were still delivered to the army or navy in 1914/1915, resulted in a viable series production. All Taube fanciers used tape tube technology, with the wings having the traditional Zanonia shape.
   The exact number of Germania A.I Tauben delivered is not known. S 18 was a naval landplane that was likely a Germania A.I (noted as a Rahtjen).

Germania A.I Taube Specifications
Engine: 100 hp Argus
Wing: Span 14.0 m
General: Length 10.2 m
Height 3.2 m
Wing Area 30 m1
Empty weight 690 kg
Max Take-off weight 1062 kg
Max. Speed 96 km/h
Max. Operating Range 385 km

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)

Germania Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Leipzig-Mockau

Foundation:

  The beginnings of Germania-Flugzeugwerke GmbH date back to 1910, when the former director of the Erwin Leiber company in Gohrwihl in the Black Forest undertook experiments with wooden strip tubes for aircraft fuselages and wing spars. In 1912, the company was founded under the name “Rathjen & Co.” in Berlin-Teltow, and on December 17, it was transformed into the above-mentioned company.
  Subsequently, Works II (in Leipzig-Mockau, Leipziger Str. 200b) and Works III in Leipzig-Sellerhausen,Torgauer Strasse, were established as subsidiaries.


Aircraft Development:

  In 1912, a Taube with a round fuselage and with wings made of wooden strip tubes was the first of this design. This design represented a significant advance for the time, as this first “Wickelrumpf” (wounded fuselage) (made of wooden strip) can be considered the forerunner of the later veneer fuselages. With further improvements, two more pigeons of this design were built, equipped with 100 hp Argus engines, which were accepted by the Army Administration and the Navy in 1914 according to the regulations prescribed at that time.
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