The Albatros Flugzeugwerke, a German aircraft manufacturer, designed and produced the Albatros C.I, also known as the L.6 and L.7.
This twin-seat biplane was a versatile general-purpose aircraft and marked the beginning of the successful C-series operated by the Luftstreitkräfte.
As the First World War progressed, the Allies deployed an increasing number of armed military aircraft, posing a threat to unarmed planes like the Albatros B.II.
In response to this challenge, Albatros developed the C.I in late 1914.
Building upon the B.II design, the C.I featured a reversed seating arrangement, with the observer occupying the rear cockpit.
This position was equipped with a machine gun, typically a ring-mounted 7.92 mm Parabellum MG14.
Additionally, the C.I boasted a more powerful engine, such as the 150 hp Benz Bz.III or the 160 hp Mercedes D.III, and exhibited favourable flying characteristics.
Overall, the Albatros C.I played a crucial role in addressing the vulnerability of unarmed aircraft during the First World War.
Its innovative design, with reversed seating and improved firepower, allowed it to effectively counter the increasing threat posed by armed military aircraft.
With its success, the C-series became a significant part of the Luftstreitkräfte’s operations, setting the stage for further advancements in German aviation during the war.
In the latter part of April 1915, the C.I aircraft was introduced into frontline duty with the Luftstreitkräfte.
Its performance quickly demonstrated its effectiveness, with a total of 228 units operational by the year’s end, representing 42% of the C-type aircraft in service.
The aircraft was utilised in various capacities, including as a fighter plane, with renowned pilots like Oswald Boelcke and Manfred von Richthofen piloting the type.
The C.I was employed in a range of missions, such as aerial reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and bombing runs.
Subsequent enhancements to the C.I model led to the development of the Albatros C.III, prompting the withdrawal of the original aircraft from active combat on the Western Front in 1916.
However, it continued to serve in a secondary training capacity, equipped with dual controls to instruct new pilots and observers.
Even after its retirement from frontline combat, the C.I remained in operation within the German military until the Armistice of November 11 November 1918.
Furthermore, the aircraft found further use among other air forces, including the Lithuanian Air Force, the Polish Air Force, and the Swedish Air Force.
Its legacy endured beyond the end of World War I, showcasing its lasting impact and versatility in various aviation roles.
Variants
C.I
Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft.
First production version.
C.Ia
The improved version is powered by a more powerful Argus As III engine,
Built by BFW and by LFG.
C.Ib
Dual-control training version built by Mercur Flugzeugbau.
C.If
C.Ifd
C.I-V
Experimental aircraft.
One built.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
Wingspan
12.9 m (42 ft 4 in)
Height
3.14 m (10 ft 4 in)
Wing area
40.4 m2 (435 sq ft)
Empty weight
875 kg (1,929 lb)
Gross weight
1,190 kg (2,624 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Mercedes D.III,
6-cylinder water cooled inline piston engine,
120 kW (160 hp)
Propellers
2 bladed wooden fixed pitch propellers
Performance
Maximum speed
132 km/h (82 mph, 71 kn)
Endurance
2½ hours
Service ceiling.
3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Rate of climb
1.7 m/s (330 ft/min)
Armament
Guns
1 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun in the observer’s cockpit.
Sources German & Austro-Hungarian aircraft manufacturers 1908–1918-T C Treadwell. German Aircraft of the First World War-Peter Gray & Owen Thetford. Flugzeug Publications, Die Deutsche Luftwaffe 1914 – Heute.
