The AGO C.IV was a First World War German biplane reconnaissance aircraft.
A departure from the manufacturer’s pod and boom designs, it featured a more conventional biplane layout whose only unusual feature was the tapered wings.
Large orders were placed with AGO and two other manufacturers who were to build them under license, but less than 100 were actually delivered.
Although fast and well-armed, the C.IV was unstable in the air and was disliked by aircrew.
Early production examples had a comma shaped rudder and no fin, while later aircraft had an additional curved fin, along with additional struts bracing the ailerons and tail.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Wingspan
11.9 m (39 ft 1 in)
Height
3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Wing area
37.5 m2 (404 sq ft)
Empty weight
900 kg (1,984 lb)
Gross weight
1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Benz Bz.IV, 6-cyl Water cooled inline piston engine,
160 kW (220 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed
190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
Endurance
4 hours
Service ceiling
5,500 m (18,000 ft)
Time to altitude
3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 22 minutes
Armament
1 x fixed forward firing MG 08 Spandau machine gun fired by the pilot
1 x Parabellum MG 14 machine gun aimed by the Observer.
