J.Herris German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WW1. Vol II (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 50)

Schutte-Lanz G.I

   Schutte-Lanz is mainly known for building airships, but also built a series of airplane prototypes, none of which reached production. One bomber, the Schutte-Lanz G.I, was built and several others were designed but not built, although the Schutte-Lanz G.V was built by LVG as the LVG G.III.
   The Schutte-Lanz G.I was designed and built to the original Kampfflugzeug specification of 1914; it was originally assigned to the "K" category but became the G.I when the G-category replaced it. The fuselage had a five-sided cross section covered with plywood. Two 160 hp Mercedes D.III engines were fitted in a pusher configuration, common to most German two-engine aircraft of the time. As shown in the photo, the propellers were fitted to long extension shafts to clear the wing.
   The gunner had a single flexible machine gun in the front cockpit. The configuration did not look balanced; a small rudder without fixed fin was fitted but the horizontal stabilizers were nearly half the length of the fuselage. The G.I was too slow to intercept hostile aircraft and the propeller extension shafts and their supports were heavy and created excessive drag; only one aircraft was completed.

Schutte-Lanz G.I Specifications
Engines: 2 x 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Wing: Span 22.0 m
Area 100.0 m2
General: Length 12.0 m
Height 4.2 m
Empty Weight 1,850 kg
Loaded Weight 3,100 kg
Maximum Speed: 125 km/h
Duration: 6 hours
Armament: 1 flexible MG

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 2 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 85)

Luftfahrzeugbau Schutte-Lanz, Zeesen (SchuI)

  Johann Schutte (1873-1940). Mr. Geh. Kommerzienrat von Rochling and the well-known agricultural machinery builder Karl Lanz and his wife founded the company Schfitte-Lanz-Luftfahrzeugbau GmbH in Mannheim on June 1,1909 and built the Schutte-Lanz airship for World War I starting in 1911. As the second largest airship manufacturer, the company was Graf Zeppelin's main competitor. Schutte's rigid airship differed from the Zeppelin type in its wooden frame. On October 17, 1911 the first test flight of the airship SL I started in Rheinau.
  At the beginning of the last year of the war in 1918, the company was transformed into a general partnership under the name "Luftfahrzeugbau Schutte-Lanz oHG".
  During the war, it had a second factory built in Zeesen for fear of air raids. Construction of this factory began on October 1, 1915.


Luftfahrzeugbau Schutte-Lanz, Werk Zeesen/Konigs Wusterhausen i. Mark

Aircraft Development:

  Shortly before the war, Schutte-Lanz had already been engaged in the construction of airplanes. In the course of 1915, the G airplane with two engines arranged on the wings was completed. During a test flight, however, this prototype suffered a total loss. Since at that time the military authorities still gave priority to the airship, they showed no interest in such a large aircraft. As a result, further developments were initially discontinued. In the meantime, work began on October 1, 1915 on the construction of a new shipyard in Zeesen near Konigs Wusterhausen. Construction of the first airship manufactured in Zeesen could begin here as early as the early summer of 1916. In order to achieve an effective utilization of the shipyard, the board of Schutte-Lanz AG decided to locate the experimental aircraft construction in Zeesen as well. Thus, in addition to the airship hangar, various workshops for aircraft construction were built at the shipyard.
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