В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны

DFW B-I/C-I/C-II

   Двухместный цельнодеревянный трехстоечный биплан. Отдельные элементы конструкции (межкрыльевые стойки, тележка шасси, каркасы оперения, рулей и элеронов) выполнены из стальных труб каплевидного сечения.
   DFW В-I разработан в начале 1914 года на лейпцигской фирме Дойче Флюгцойгверк. Фабричное обозначение машины MD-14. Её непосредственным предшественником был биплан "Марс", на котором немецкие летчики воевали в составе турецкой армии в балканских войнах 1912-1913 гг. За характерную серповидную форму крыльев, предназначенную, по замыслу авторов, для повышения продольной устойчивости, самолет получил прозвище "летающий банан".
   С начала войны В-I применялся в качестве разведчика на западном и восточном фронтах. Весной 1915-го "банан" модернизировали, установив на него более мощный мотор и пулемет "Парабеллум" на кольцевой ферме над верхним крылом. Для стрельбы наблюдатель, размещенный впереди летчика, должен был вылезать из кабины и вставать на сиденье.
   Несмотря на то, что подобная система была не только неудобной, но и опасной (наблюдатель при работе с оружием полностью загораживал обзор пилоту и при любых маневрах мог просто выпасть из машины), в 1915 году построили 130 аппаратов данного типа. В связи с установкой пулемета, DFW перевели в класс "вооруженных бипланов", присвоив ему индекс C-I.
   Летнабам DFW недолго пришлось заниматься "эквилибристикой". В том же году появился DFW C-II с классическим размещением экипажа (пилот спереди, наблюдатель сзади), что позволило смонтировать в задней кабине стандартную пулеметную турель "Шнейдер". Кроме того самолет оснастили двухстоечной бипланной коробкой с прямыми крыльями и слегка переделали хвостовое оперение. Новый аппарат утратил индивидуальные черты и уже ничем не отличался от большинства немецких разведчиков того периода. C-I и C-II использовались в разведэскадрах германских ВВС на обоих фронтах, но судя по крайне скудной информации о применении этих машин, они не получили широкого распространения, а вскоре на их место пришли более современные аэропланы.
  
  
ДВИГАТЕЛЬ
  
   "Бенц", 150 л.с. (C-I и C-II).
  
  
ВООРУЖЕНИЕ
  
   На В-I отсутствовало, на C-I и C-II - 1 подвижный "Парабеллум".
  
  
ЛЕТНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ
(DFW B-I)
  
   Размах, м 13,97
   Длина, м 8,38
   Сухой вес, кг 653
   Взлетный вес, кг 1020
   Скорость максимальная, км/ч 120
   Время набора высоты, м/мин 1000/5

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

D.F.W. B II
   Produced during 1915 as a school machine. Kurt Wusthoff, who later became a well-known fighter pilot, trained on this type at the Leipzig-Lindenthal school. Engine, 100 or 120 h.p. Mercedes D I or D II. Span, 12.60 m. (41 ft. 4 1/8 in.). Weights: Empty, 747 kg. (1,644 lb.). Loaded, 1,190 kg. (2,618 lb.).


D.F.W. C I and C II
   Produced in 1916 as a general duties machine, the C I and C II were conventional two-seaters and differed only in that in the C I the pilot sat in the aft position; in the C II the crew positions were reversed. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz III. Span, 11.2 m. (36 ft. 9 in.). Length, 7.2 m. (23 ft. 7 1/2 in.). Area, 33 sq.m. (356.4 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 725 kg. (1,595 lb.). Loaded, 1,235 kg. (2,717 lb.). Speed, 140 km.hr. (87.5 m.p.h.). Ceiling, 4,000 m. (13,120 ft.). Armament, one Parabellum machine-gun in rear cockpit.


D.F.W. C Type
   Experimental C type, September 1916. A fair degree of similarity in profile to the later C IV is apparent. The single-bay "I" struts were unusual for a two-seater. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Bz III.

J.Herris DFW Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 29)

DFW B.II

   The DFW B.II differed from the earlier B.I mainly in its wing design. The B.II wing abandoned the curved wing planform of the B.I for a rectangular planform with straight leading edges, and a two-bay design replaced the three-bay design of the B.I. The tail surfaces of the B.II were curved instead of straight like those of the B.I. The engine remained a 100 hp Mercedes D.I and side radiators were retained. The upper fuselage of the B.II was more contoured then that of the B.I. Photos show the B.II in service as a trainer. The Frontbestand does not show the B.II served at the front although that is not definitive; the DFW C.II and C.IV both served at the front and neither are listed in the Frontbestand.


DFW C-Types

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   In contrast to the excellent C.V, the other DFW C-types made no significant impact on the air war. The earlier production types, the C.I, C.II, and C.IV, were built and operated in very small numbers and made only a minor contribution to German aviation, being inferior to their competitors from Albatros and Rumpler. Their production orders and operational service was little-noted at the time, leaving only a sketchy record.
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DFW C.I

   DFW's first two-seater designed from the outset to be armed was the C.I. The C.I appears to be derived from the DFW B.II; the C.I had a more conventional, rectangular wing planform that abandoned the banana shape of the B.I. The superstructure for the observer's flexible gun used in the earlier armed B-types was eliminated to reduce drag; instead, the gunner, still in the front seat, had a gun ring with flexible machine gun. Curved steel tubes fitted on both sides of the aircraft between the forward cabane struts and the fuselage blocked the gunner from firing through the propeller arc.
   The engine installed in the C.I was the reliable 150 hp Benz Bz.III that was more powerful than the 100 hp Mercedes used in most DFW B-types. Initially side radiators were used, but later C.I aircraft used a more modern leading edge radiator that had
lower drag than the side radiators. The leading edge radiator was also less prone to leaking and, in event of damage, offered more time before the cylinder heads were drained of water, enabling the engine to run a little longer after the water started leaking.
   Two small batches of the DFW C.I are known, C.1500/15 - C.1528/15 (29 aircraft) and C.1975/15 - C.1985/15 (11 aircraft). Apparently fitting of leading edge radiators started in the first batch.
   The late Peter M. Grosz indicated the DFW C.I was removed from the front due to weak wing spars. It is noted that three C.I aircraft completed the type test January 15, 1916, well after the C.I reached the front, and at a time when no C.I aircraft are shown in the Frontbeststand inventory. This may be the second type test for the DFW C.I confirming that the strengthened wing spars were satisfactory. The C.I returned to the front in small numbers a couple of months later, likely after the aircraft removed from the front were rebuilt with stronger wings.
   The DFW C.I is known to have served with Bavarian FFA 1b in at least November/December 1915, and FFA 32 is also known to have used at least one DFW C.I. Documentation also shows the DFW C.I served with a number of schools, including FEA 6, FEA 8, FEA 10, FEA 11, FEA 1b, and Beobachterschule Thorn from at least July 1916 to February 1918.


DFW C.II

   The DFW C.II was a simple development of the C.I. The observer, together with his flexible gun, was moved to the rear cockpit and the curved steel tubes fitted on both sides of the aircraft between the forward cabane struts and the fuselage on the C.I were eliminated as no longer necessary to block the gunner from firing through the propeller arc.
The engine installed in the C.II was the same reliable 150 hp Benz Bz.III that was installed in the C.I. The C.II also used the leading edge radiator that had been installed in later production C.I aircraft.
   Known production of the DFW C.II was very small, a total of 12 aircraft with serials C.4200/15 - C.4211/15.
   Based on photographs a small number of DFW C.II reconnaissance planes are thought to have been used operationally, but documentation is not available and they do not appear in the Frontbeststand inventory, so their service must have been brief.


Known DFW C.I, C.II, & C.IV Production Orders
Type Qty Serials Notes
C.I 29 C.1500-1528/15 Probably the full serial number range
C.I 11 C.1975-1985/15 Probably the full serial number range
C.II 12 C.4200-4211/15
These serial numbers are based on secondary data like photographs and strength reports, not primary sources like Idflieg orders. The highest serial numbers given for each type are the highest known.

DFW B & C-Type Specifications
DFW B.I DFW C.I DFW C.II DFW C.III
Engine 100 hp Mercedes D.I 150 hp Benz Bz.III 150 hp Benz Bz.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III 150 hp Benz Bz.III
Span, Upper 14.0 m 14.0 m - -
Span, Lower - - - -
Chord, Upper - - - -
Chord, Lower - - - -
Gap - - - -
Wing Area - 40 tn2 - -
Length 8.4 m 8.4 m - -
Height 3.18 m 3.18 m - -
Empty Weight 650 kg 800 kg 725 kg -
Loaded Weight 1,015 kg 1,140 kg 1,235 kg -
Maximum Speed 120 km/h 130 km/h 140 km/h -
Climb to 1,000m - - - -
Climb to 2,000m - - - -
Climb to 3,000m - - - -
Climb to 4,000m - - - -

Журнал Flight

Flight, August 28, 1914.

AIRCRAFT "MADE IN GERMANY"
WHICH MAY BE EMPLOYED AGAINST THE ALLIES.

12. The New Arrow-Type D.F.W. Biplane
   is similar in several ways to the machine described above, chiefly as regards its fuselage. Its main planes, however, are not crescent-shaped, but are similar in form to those of the Beardmore D.F.W. entered for the Circuit of Britain, and which was described in our issue of last week. It is, like the latter machine, built entirely of steel. With a 120 h.p. Austro-Daimler engine it develops a speed of 85 m.p.h.