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

A.E.G. C I
   Introduced in March 1915, the C I was virtually a more powerful B II with a manually operated gun for the observer. The aircraft illustrated is unusual in having a Bergmann machine-gun installed. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Hz III. Span, 13.07 m. (42 ft. 10 1/2 in.). Length, 7.95 m. (26 ft. 0 7/8 in.). Area, 36 sq.m. (388.8 sq. ft.). Weights: Empty, 710 kg. (1,562 lb.). Loaded, 1,125 kg. (2,475 lb.). Speed, 130 km.hr. (81.25 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3.280 ft.) in 4.5 min.

A.E.G. C II
   Slightly smaller version of C I, introduced in October 1915. Four 10 kg. bombs could be carried. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Bz III. Span, 11.95 m. (38 ft. 10 5/8 in.). Length, 7.09 m. (23 ft. 3 1/8 in ) . Weights: Empty, 680 kg. (1,496 lb.). Loaded, 1,200 kg. (2,640 lb.). Speed, 138 km.hr. (86.25 m.p.h.).

J.Herris AEG Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 16)

AEG C.I

   The AEG C.I (company designation KZ9 for Kampf-Zweidecker 9, or battle biplane 9) was derived from the earlier, unarmed B.II by adding a machine-gun turret; there was no fixed gun for the pilot. Although structurally the same as the B.II, with steel-tube construction except for wooden wing ribs, the C.I had a different wing planform than the B.II; however, the wing-folding mechanism was retained. Idflieg ordered six C.I aircraft in early 1915 and the C.I prototype was completed in March. Additional C.I aircraft were ordered, a total of about 70 being delivered.
   The AEG C.I was among the first C-type aircraft to reach the front, serving from June 1915 to April 1916. Climb rate was mediocre despite the C.I being lighter than most contemporary C-types. Due to its sturdy metal airframe the C.I was used well into 1917 as a trainer after being removed from the front.


AEG C.II & C.IIa - C.IIe

   The AEG C.II was basically a lightened C.I with a modified wing planform. Like the C.I it was powered by the 150 hp Benz Bz.III engine. It was 122 kg lighter than the C.I, giving it better performance, but airframe strength was compromised, resulting in a number of failures during load tests. Modifications to strengthen the airframe took time and the first six C.II aircraft were not delivered until April 1916. One C.II was sent to the front that month, but was soon removed from the front and sent to join the other C.II aircraft for training use.
   From early 1915 through the spring of 1916, AEG modified C.II biplanes with different airfoil sections, chord, span, and gap, with the different configurations given factory (not Idflieg] designations C.IIa through C.IIe. Data was collected that led to aerodynamic improvements to wing and radiator design, some of which were key in the design of the AEG C.IV.
   The AEG C.IIe tested an armored, annular radiator (Patent 299,725) in which the cooling air was forced through the radiator by a fan attached to the propeller. This particular development was driven by combat experience with the armored AEG J.I, which demonstrated that the radiator was the most vulnerable part of the armored aircraft during low-level ground attacks.


AEG C-Type Production Orders
Serial Numbers Qty Order Date & Notes

AEG C.I (70 Total)
C.74-79/15 6 Unknown
C.82-93/15 12 April 1915
C.130-153/15 24 May 1915
C.324-348/15 25 May 1915
C.1366-1368/17 3 Unknown

AEG C.II (37 Total)
C.869-888/15 20 September 1915
C.1887-1902/15 16 October 1915
C.9421/16 1 C.II prototype?


AEG C-Type Specifications
C.I C.II C.III C.IV C.IV(Fok)
Engine 150 hp Benz Bz.III 150 hp Benz Bz.III 150 hp Benz Bz.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Span Upper 13.07 m 11.95 m 12.00 m 13.00 m 12.99 m
Span Lower 11.83 m 11.45 m 11.30 m 12.50 m 12.36 m
Chord Upper 1.60 m 1.85 m 1.60 m 1.65 m 1.65 m
Chord Lower 1.60 m 1.85 m 1.60 m 1.65 m 1.65 m
Gap 1.95 m 1.80 m 1.40 m 1.95 m 1.95 m
Wing Area 36.0 m2 39.0 m2 33.90 m2 39.0 m2 -
Length 7.95 m 7.09 m 6.50 m 7.20 m 7.22 m
Track 2.30 m 2.15 m 2.15 m 2.15 m 2.16 m
Empty Weight 710 kg 680 kg 687 kg 800 kg 901 kg
Loaded Weight 1,125 kg 1,200 kg 1,232 kg 1,320 kg 1,414 kg
Maximum Speed 130 kmh 138 kmh 145 kmh 158 kmh -
Climb, 1000m 11 min. 8 min. - 6 min. 4.8 min.
Climb, 2000m 25 min. 18 min. - 12.5 min. 12.1 min.
Climb, 3000m 55 min. 41 min. - 23 min. 21.9 min.
Climb, 4000m - - - 38 min. 35.4 min.
Armament 1 flexible machine gun, small bombs 1 flexible machine gun, 4x10 kg bombs 1 flexible machine gun 1 fixed & 1 flexible machine gun 1 flexible machine gun

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)

Allgemeine Elektrizitats-Gesellschaft, Flugzeugfabrik, Hennigsdorf (AEG)

Aircraft Development:

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  The same type was later rebuilt as a C-airplane and introduced into the air forces in larger numbers in the summer of 1915 as the Type Aeg C.I with a 150 hp Benz engine, where it was not inferior to the types of other manufacturers in terms of aeronautical performance.
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  In response to the increased demands for the greatest possible climb rate, a modification of the C aircraft was undertaken. The weight of the AEG C.I was substantially reduced to a permissible level. The new type came to the front as the AEG C.II and certainly satisfied the expectations for climbing.
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