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

DAIMLER L 8 (CL I) Germany

   A tandem two-seat single-bay staggered biplane, the Daimler L 8 (Cl I) was intended primarily as a light escort fighter, a single prototype being built late in 1917. Powered by a 185 hp Daimler D IIIb eight-cylinder water-cooled engine, the L 8 carried an armament of one forward-firing synchronised LMG 08/15 7,92-mm machine gun and a Parabellum machine gun in the rear cockpit. No further prototypes were completed, and although, in July 1919, Daimler offered to build the L 8 for the Chilean government, no contract was signed. The following specification relates to the L 8 as offered to Chile.

Max speed, 93 mph (150 km/h) at 4,920 ft (1500 m).
Time to 16,405 ft (5 000m), 33.5 min.
Endurance, 4 hrs.
Empty weight, 1,808 lb (820 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,711 lb (1230 kg).
Span, 38 ft 9 1/3 in (11,82 m).
Length, 24 ft 5 1/3 in (7,45 m).
Height, 9 ft 8 1/8 in (2,95 m).
Wing area, 339.07 sq ft (31,50 m2).

J.Herris German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WW1. Vol I (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 49)

Daimler L 8

   The Daimler L.8 was a single-bay biplane powered by a Mercedes D.IIIbm engine. Essentially it was an enlarged D.I. Armament was one fixed machine gun for the pilot and a flexible gun for the observer. Photographic equipment was carried, but no wireless equipment was fitted.

Daimler L.8 (aka CL.I) Specifications
Engine: 185 hp Mercedes D.IIIb V-8
Wing: Span 11.820 m
General: Length 7.465 m