AEG introduced a range of aircraft in Germany, including the AEG Wagner Eule in 1914.
The Eule was a mid-wing monoplane with a single engine and two seats.
It was designed by engineer Wagner and had a fuselage constructed from welded steel tubs covered in fabric.
The wings, made of oak wood with a fabric covering, had a distinctive bat-like trailing edge and a curving leading edge, resembling a bird or bat.
The fuselage measured 4.77 metres with a cross-section of 110 cm x 98 cm.
The first prototype, powered by a Gnome rotary engine, was used for taxi tests but was destroyed by fire during a repair on the fuel tank.
The second prototype could be equipped with either a rotary engine or an inline 4-cylinder engine from a Ford Model T.
A few short test flights were carried out to assess the aerodynamic characteristics before the project was abandoned.
Although the unique wing design was not used in AEG’s later aircraft, the welded metal framed, fabric-covered fuselage was incorporated into AEG’s B, C, and J class aircraft.
Specifications Crew
2 Number built
2 Powerplant
1 × Gnome Rotary Length
4.77 m Wingspan
12.5 m Height
2.5 m Wing area
22.5 m² Empty weight
400 kg Gross weight
600 kg Maximum speed
120 km/h Endurance
2 hours Armament
None.
Sources
AEG Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes-Jack Herris.
German Aircraft of the First World War-Owen Thetford.
