J.Herris LVG Aircraft of WWI. Vol.1: B-Types & C.I (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 34)

Early LVG Aircraft

  LVG's first aircraft were a few license-built Farman pusher biplanes. LVG's first original designs were essentially copies of early Nieuport monoplanes. This was not surprising considering they were designed by Franz Schneider, who had worked as an engineer at Nieuport when these monoplanes were designed and built. Although the original Nieuport monoplanes were successful in 1911 and 1912 flying competitions, they did not meet the needs of the pre-war German army.

E1
  Built in 1912, the LVG E1 was powered by a 45 hp NAG.

E2
  Built in 1912/1913, the LVG E2 was essentially an E1 with more powerful engine, a 50-80 hp Gnome.

E3
  Built in 1913, the LVG E3 was a further development of the LVG E1, this time using a 100 hp Daimler engine.

E4
  The LVG E4, powered by a 80-100 hp Gnome, was built in 1912. Baron von Thuna flew it in the Berlin-Vienna 1912 flight. It was the final E1 development.

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

Luftverkehrsgesellschaft mbH (LVG), Johannisthal & Koslin

Luftverkehrsgesellschaft mbH, Berlin-Johannisthal, (LVG)

Aircraft Development:

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  In 1912, the first monoplane was built, based on the Nieuport type. Although several were built, this aircraft was not accepted by the army administration. After the flop of the monoplane, the company turned to the construction of a biplane based on the Farman system and produced a design on the basis of which the Army Administration signed an order for 18 units.
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  The monoplane type, equipped with an in-line engine, was taken back into the program on an experimental basis, but was soon put aside permanently, as the results achieved were unsatisfactory. With seven airplanes of two types, the company successfully participated in the Ostmarken-Flug, as each participating airplane received a prize.
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  Returning to the monoplane, this machine was again rebuilt as such, but after Lieutenant Wentsch’s fatal crash it was finally discarded.
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Franz Schneider Flugmaschinenwerke GmbH, Seegefeld/Spandau

Foundation:

  Franz Schneider acquired the factory facilities in Seegefeld from the liquidated Deutsche Eisenbahn-Speisewagen-Gesellschaft and founded his own company, Franz Schneider Flugmaschinenwerke.


Aircraft Development:

  In 1906, Schneider joined Edouard de Nieuport and his brother Charles as technical director of the Nieuport Duplex magneto factory in Suresnes near Paris. Infected by the Nieuport brothers' enthusiasm for aircraft construction, Schneider assisted them in 1909 with the design and construction of a monoplane "Nieuport N.1". In 1910, they built a closed monoplane, and the following year Schneider and the Nieuport brothers developed a monoplane for the Gordon Bennett race that flew at more than 100 km/h.
  After Nieuport's accidental death in September 1911, Schneider moved to Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft A.G. in Johannisthal and began working as technical director, where, in addition to three different monoplanes, he designed the LVG B and LVG C biplanes, which were used in large numbers by the German air force.
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