W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

BRANDENBURG L 14 Germany

   A derivative of the KD (D I) with larger overall dimensions, simplified interplane bracing and a 200 hp Hiero six-cylinder water-cooled engine, the L 14 single-seat fighter was evaluated by the Austro-Hungarian air arm in 1917, but was not accepted for series production. Two prototypes were built and flown, these differing primarily in the arrangement of the interplane bracing struts employed, and intended armament was twin 8-mm Schwarzlose synchronised machine guns.

Max speed, 112 mph (180 km/h).
Time to 3,280 ft (1 000 m), 4.0 min.
Empty weight, 1,631 lb (740 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,072 lb (940 kg).
Span, 33 ft 5 1/2 in (10,20 m).
Length, 23 ft 1 1/2in (7,05m).
Wing area, 272.12 sqft (25,28 m2).

C.Owers Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI Vol.1: Landplanes (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 17)

Type L 14
  
   The L 14(21) was developed in 1917 for the Austro-Hungarian Army in response to a request to reduce the weight of the D.I fighter.(22) Its D.I ancestry was evident in the fuselage. It was of sesquiplane layout, apparently due to Nieuport influence, with conventional interplane struts of the vee variety rather than the star struts of the D.I. The wings and fuselage followed normal Brandenburg construction methods with a ply-covered fuselage and fabric-covered wooden wings. The single prototype, 60.58, underwent testing in February 1917 and required extensive modification. Transferred to Phonix, it was placed in storage until the end of the war whereupon it is presumed to have been destroyed.(23)
(21) Initially called the Type LKD.
(22) Gray & Thetford state that the L 14 was built for assessment by the German Army; however, P.M. Grosz notes that it was built to an Austro-Hungarian requirement.
(23) Green and Swanborough state that two machines were built, these differing in the interplane bracing.


Brandenburg Type L 14 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View PMG Data 60.58 (2nd Version)
Span, m 10.20/8.35 10.2 10.200/8.350 10.20/8.35
Length, m - 7.05 7.055 7.06
Chord, Upper, m - - 1.700 1.70
Chord, Lower, m - - 1.400 1.40
Wing Area, m2 - 25.58 25.58 25.58
Empty Wt., kg - 740 - 740
Loaded Wt., kg - 940 - 940
Speed, km/h - - - 203
Time to 2000 m 3 min - 4 min 8 sec 3 min 30 sec
Motor 200-hp Hiero 200-hp Hiero 200-hp Hiero 200-hp Hiero

P.Grosz, G.Haddow, P.Shiemer Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One (Flying Machines)

Brandenburg 60.58

  The success of the Nieuport sesquiplane fighter on the Western Front motivated Brandenburg to propose in July-August 1916 a derivative design powered by a 160 hp inline engine. It was rejected by Flars, who preferred to await the frontline assessment of the Brandenburg D.I expected to reach the Front in November. A month later, Flars asked Brandenburg to reduce the D.I's weight, eliminate the heavy pyramid struts, and generally improve the flight characteristics. Brandenburg responded by proposing the Type LKD fighter powered by a 200 hp Hiero engine.
  The maiden flight of the Brandenburg L 14 (formerly Type LKD) took place at Briest in February 1917, followed by performance trials in March. The results were "unexceptional ... the wing tips vibrated severely and reinforcement was necessary." Tests were interrupted when the tail skid collapsed on touch down, badly damaging the fuselage and tail empennage. During May-June 1917, the L 14 was rebuilt with modified wing struts, new tail surfaces, and stronger engine bearers, but progress was reported "extremely slow" since Brandenburg chose to give priority to building seaplanes for the German and Austro-Hungarian Navies. The modified L 14 was test flown on 26 June 1917, demonstrating improved performance although the empty weight had increased by 80 kg (176 lb). A top speed of 203 km/hr (126 mph) and "appreciably better" flight characteristics than the D.I series 65.5 were reported.
The L 14, now designated 60.58, was transferred to Phonix on 12 July 1917 for LFT evaluation, but Flars expressed no enthusiasm since flight tests with similar Phonix prototypes (20.14 and 20.16) had offered scant improvement. In March 1918, the 60.58 was placed in storage, remaining Phonix property until the war's end, when payment was received for the prototype.

Brandenburg 60.58 (Type LKD, L 14) First Version
Engine: 200 hp Hiero
General: Empty Weight 660 kg (1455 lb)
Loaded Weight 850 kg (1874 lb)
Maximum Speed: 200 km/hr (124 mph)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 2 min 25 sec

Brandenburg 60.58 (Type LKD, L 14) Second Version
Engine: 200 hp Hiero
Wing: Span Upper 10.20 m (33.46 ft)
Span Lower 8.35 m (27.39 ft)
Chord Upper 1.70 m (5.58 ft)
Chord Lower 1.40 m (4.59 ft)
Dihedral Upper 0 deg
Dihedral Lower 0 deg
Sweepback Upper 0 deg
Sweepback Lower 0 deg
Gap 1.58 m (5.18 ft)
Stagger 0.53 m (1.74 ft)
Total Wing Area 25.58 sq m (275 sq ft)
General: Length 7.06 m (23.16 ft)
Track 1.70 m (5.58 ft)
Empty Weight 740 kg (1632 lb)
Loaded Weight 940 kg (2073 lb)
Maximum Speed: 203 km/hr (126 mph)
Climb: 2000m (6,562 ft) in 6 min

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

60. Flugzeuge der Ungarischen Flugzeugfabrik A.G. (Ufag) Budapest und Hansa Brandenburgische Flugzeugfabrik Brandenburg/Briest
60.58 Brandenburg DD (Type L 14) H 200