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Gotha LD.2/LD.5/B

Страна: Германия

Год: 1914

Gotha - LD.1 - 1914 - Германия<– –>Gotha - LD.3/LD.4 - 1914 - Германия


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


Gotha LD 1a
   Developed from the pre-war (April 1914) LD 1, the la was built in 1915. It was of orthodox wood and fabric construction except for steel-tube control surfaces. Engine, 100 h.p. Oberursel U I. Span, 14.5 m. (47 ft. 7 in.). Length, 7.4 m. (24 ft. 3 3/8 in.). Weights: Empty, 525 kg. (1,155 lb.). Loaded 917 kg. (2,017 lb.). Speed, 115 km.hr. (71.875 m.p.h.). Climb, 800 m. (2,624 ft.) in 8 min. Armament, none.


Gotha LD 5
   Built in November 1914, this diminutive biplane was intended for fast scouting duty (Kavallerie Flugzeug). The undercarriage chassis is of interest, being virtually a single-strut structure with cable bracing forward and a light steel tube to the rear. The arched decking forward of the cockpit, housing the fuel tanks, is also noteworthy. Engine, 100 h.p. Oberursel U I.


J.Herris Gotha Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 6)


Gotha LD2 (Gotha B.II)

   Designed by Rosner, the Gotha LD2 was powered by a 100 hp Oberursel rotary engine. Intended to achieve maximum speed, possibly to compete for the speed prize of 300,000 Marks posted by the National Flugspende, work on the LD2 prototype began on 31 March 1914.
   On 24 August 1914, Idflieg ordered nine Gotha LD2 biplanes, numbered B.459-467/14. These were later assigned the designation Gotha B.II. The production prototype had a revised cowling for better engine cooling, and the cowling was again revised for the main production run, which also featured cut-down fuselage decking. Some time during the design's evolution the fixed vertical fin was eliminated, the revised aircraft having a button rudder. Starting 12 April 1915 all nine aircraft were delivered to FEA 3.

Gotha LD2 Specifications
Engine: 100 hp Oberursel U.I
Wing: Span Upper 14.50 m
Span Lower 13.50 m
Area 46 m2
General: Length 8.28 m
Height 3.45 m
Empty Weight 590 kg
Loaded Weight 982 kg
Maximum Speed: 115 km/h
Climb: 1000m 12 min
2000m 32 min
Range: 520 km


Gotha LD5

   On 17 October 1914 Gotha began work on the LD5, which was designed by Ingenieur Hans Burkhard, a Swiss citizen who worked for Gotha throughout the war. Prior to joining Gotha in 1914, Burkhard had designed aircraft for Rumpler (1911), Bristol (1912), and Halberstadt (1913).
   Powered by a 100 hp Oberursel rotary engine, the Gotha LD5 was a "cavalry biplane" intended as a light spotting aircraft to accompany an army on the move. The LD5, which first flew in December 1914, was a small, two-bay biplane with no fixed tail surfaces. Never assigned an official designation, the sole Gotha LD5 later served as a trainer at FEA 3.

Gotha LD5 Specifications
Engine: 100 hp Oberursel U.I

J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Two views of the prototype Gotha LD2 showing its streamlined engine cowling and spinner and very low profile fin and rudder.
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
The production prototype of the Gotha LD2 was far less appealing than the first prototype. The cowling was modified for better cooling and the fin and rudder were now enlarged for better stability and control.
O.Thetford, P.Gray - German Aircraft of the First World War /Putnam/
Gotha LD 1a
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Another view of the production prototype Gotha LD2 shows the unlovely cowling as redesigned for better cooling. National insignia were prominently painted on the wings.
H.Cowin - Aviation Pioneers /Osprey/
Typical of the two seat reconnaissance biplanes in service with the German Imperial Air Service at the outbreak of war was this Gotha B. First flown at the start of 1914, the LD-1a became the B on entering military service, signifying it to be the first biplane type purchased from the firm. Had it been a monoplane, it would have carried the military designation Gotha A, with subsequent types becoming Gotha A 2s or B 2s, etc. Powered by a 100hp Daimler D I, the prototype was followed by ten further examples, 458/14 to 467/14, these machines differing from the first in being fitted with a 100hp Oberursal copy of the original Gnome Monosoupape, as seen here. The Gotha B's top level speed was 71.5mph, while its maximum range was 323 miles.
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
The Gotha LD5, powered by a 100 hp Oberursel U.I, was designed as a 'cavalry biplane', a light observation plane designed to accompany an army on the move. The sole LD5 built served as a trainer at FEA 3.
Форум - Breguet's Aircraft Challenge /WWW/
The machine is the Gotha LD 5 a 'mini' plane for quick scouting ('Kavallerie Flugzeug') developed in november 1914.
Although initially designed as a high performance two seater, the Gotha LD-5 was rejected for field service as other than a single seat advanced trainer and even in this role, its small wing area and consequent high wing loading would ensure that it was confined to operating from the longest of available airstrips. First flown in December 1914, the LD-5 used a 100hp Oberursel Ur I, but no other useful performance data survives. The real mystery surrounding the LD-5, however, is how Gotha were permitted to build no less than 13 of these fairly pilot-unfriendly looking brutes.
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
The lesser-known Hun fighter, the Gotha short span two-seater.