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

A.E.G. C III

   Appearing late in 1915, the C III remained no more than an experimental aircraft. The deep, gap-filling fuselage gave the machine a decidedly cumbersome appearance. Crew positions were reversed, the pilot sitting in the rear cockpit. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Bz III. Span, 120 m. (39 ft. 4 1/4 in.). Length, 6.5 m. (21 ft. 4 in.). Weights: Empty, 687 kg. (1,511.4 lb.). Loaded, 1,237 kg. (2,721 lb.). Speed, 158 km.hr. (98.75 m.p.h.).

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

AEG C.III

   The AEG C.III was designed to give the observer the maximum field of fire, achieved by placing the top wing at the lever of the top of the fuselage and the observer in the front cockpit. The Roland C.II to similar format, although with pilot in front, first flew in October 1915 and the AEG C.III, clearly inspired by the Roland, flew two months later.
   The C.III was developed from the C.II and used the same 150 hp Benz Bz.III engine. One or two prototypes were built but the insufficient wing gap caused interference in the airflow between the upper and lower wings, limiting performance and flying qualities, and further development was abandoned in favor of more conventional configurations.


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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  As an experiment, the C.III type was built, in which the fuselage was designed so that the pilot and observer could see over the upper wings. The performance was essentially the same as that of the C.II aircraft, so the design was not pursued further.
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