
Описание
Страна: Германия
Год: 1914
Варианты
- Avro - 501 - 1913 - Великобритания
- Avro - 503/Type H - 1913 - Великобритания
- Gotha - WD.1/WD.2 - 1914 - Германия
- Gotha - WD.5/WD.9 - 1915 - Германия
- Gotha - WD.12/WD.13/WD.15 - 1917 - Германия
- O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)
- J.Herris Gotha Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 6)
- M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)
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M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)
Five of these two seat Gotha WD-1 reconnaissance floatplanes, No.s 285 to 289, were built for the navy in mid-1914. Fitted with a 100hp Daimler D I, the WD-1 had a top level speed of 56mph at sea level. If this seems low, the climb to 3,200 feet took a tedious 24.5 minutes. However, the WD-1 did appear to have, for its day, a useful range of 335 miles. Seen here is the prototype WD, the 100 hp Gnome powered prototype, first flown in February 1914 and which never seems to have been given a naval serial number.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Gotha WD1 (1914), an Avro 503 copy.
The prototype WD1 was powered by a two-row, 100 hp Gnome rotary engine.The WD1 floatplane was a conventional 3-bay biplane; a small float was attached to the rudder. -
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
The six subsequent WD1 floatplanes were powered by a 100 hp Mercedes D.I engine. This WD1 is almost certainly the second WD1 built by Gotha for the Ostseeflug Warnemunde 1914 competition. It has the Gotha name painted on the fuselage and retains the small float attached to the rudder.This aircraft was later purchased by the Navy.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
OFF! - A German (Gotha) seaplane starting on a reconnaissance flight. Note the long stepped floats which project backwards to a point considerably behind the pilot's seat.
This WD1 was in naval service as indicated by the national insignia and pennants attached to the outer struts. One of the series Marine Numbers 285-289, no float was attached to the rudder. Marine #285 was at Chanak seaplane station in Turkey by December 1915, while #286 was at Kawak. -
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
The first WD2 floatplane was powered by a 150 hp Rapp engine and was entered in the Ostseeflug Warnemunde 1914 competition, competition #19a. It has the Gotha name painted on the fuselage; this aircraft was later purchased by the Navy and assigned Marine Number 61.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
WD2 Marine Number 236 is seen taxiing for take-off. The float attached to the rudder of the early WD1 aircraft was no longer used on subsequent types. Its 160 hp Mercedes D.III gave it much more power than its WD1 predecessor. At least three WD2 floatplanes were sent to the German Wasserfliegerabteilung in Turkey in October 1915. In addition, at least ten WD2 floatplanes were delivered to Turkish forces.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
WD2 Marine Number 236 is seen in flight.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
This WD2 floatplane on wheels appears different than Marine Number 424; it does not have the gun turret and the exhaust is different. It wears German markings.
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M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 2 /Centennial Perspective/ (85)
Gotha WD 2, #424 with Integral propeller and Parabellum LMG 14.
Detailed view of the gun turret installation on a WD2. -
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
The serial 424 on the rear fuselage of this Gotha WD-2a identifies it as being one of the later production 'small wing' version, differentiated by the 'a' suffix. First flown in July 1914, the WD-2 and WD-2a, of which a total of 27 were built, used either a 100hp Benz Bz III, or a 150hp Rapp. Built for long range reconnaissance, the WD-2a's top level speed was 59.5mph at sea level, while its range was 415 miles, an 80 mile improvement on that of the earlier WD-1.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
WD2 Marine Number 424 (shown here) and 425 were fitted with temporary wheels and tail skids attached to their floats to enable overland flights to Turkey because rail shipments through Romania were banned. These two aircraft were powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine and had a gun turret for the observer mounted above the upper wing, giving the gunner a 360° field of fire. WD2 #424 was at Chanak when credited with a victory in Jan. 1916 by Flgobmt Wilhelm Schubert (pilot)/Flgmt Werdier (observer), who shot down a Farman that crashed east of Tenedos. Later this aircraft was at Kawak.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
This WD2 floatplane on wheels wears Turkish markings. It lacks the gun turret applied to Marine Number 424 and many other WD2 floatplanes destined for Turkish service. The gun mount for the observer can just be seen.
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H.Cowin - Aviation Pioneers /Osprey/
This Gotha WD-2 was one of a small number of floatplanes the German navy handed over to its Turkish allies in 1916. Powered by a 150hp Benz Bz III, this machine carries an early, overwing gun mounting for its front seat observer, requiring him to stand when firing.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Turkish WD2 floatplane.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
WD2 floatplane in Turkish markings in the Gotha factory pond about 1915. It has the gun turret applied to many WD2 floatplanes destined for Turkish service.
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M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)
Gotha WD2 for Turkey.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
WD2 in the Gotha factory pond with 28 men on it for a test load.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
WD2 floatplane in Turkish markings taking off. Like many WD2 floatplanes in Turkish service, it has the gun turret.
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Журнал - Flight за 1917 г.
A German (Gotha) seaplane over Constantinople.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Turkish WD2 floatplane in flight. It has the gun turret applied to many WD2 floatplanes destined for Turkish service.
O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)
Gotha WD 1
Although a pre-war design, five WD 1 and 1a aircraft saw service during the early months of the war, on coastal patrol duties. In April 1914 a WD 1 flew from Warnemunde seaplane station to Denmark. Engine, 100 h.p. Gnome. Span, 14.1 m. (46 ft. 34 in.). Length, 10.3 m. (33 ft. 9 5/8 in.). Area, 50 sq.m. (540 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 900 kg. (1,980 lb.). Loaded, 1,220 kg. (2,684 lb.). Speed, 90 km.hr. (61.75 m.p.h.). Ceiling, 2,500 m. (8,200 ft.).
Gotha WD 2
Altogether eleven Gotha WD 2s were supplied to the Navy during 1915 and used on reconnaissance and patrol duties. The type was also supplied to Turkey, this version having a machine-gun mounted on top of the centre-section, which the observer stood up to operate. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz III. Span, 15.6 m. (51 ft. 2 1/4 in.). Length, 10.5 m. (34 ft. 5 1/2 in.). Area, 56 sq.m. (605 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,065 kg. (2,343 lb.). Loaded, 1,630 kg. (3,586 lb.). Speed, 112 km.hr. (70 m.p.h.). Ceiling, 3,000 m. (9,840 ft.). Armament, none.
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