The Albatros D.IV, an experimental German fighter aircraft from World War I, was built and tested with a geared version of the 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III engine.
The geared engine was enclosed within the fuselage, unlike the ungeared version.
Combining the D.II wing cellule with the D.Va fuselage, the airframe underwent minor alterations to the rudder balance and horizontal stabiliser.
Although three examples were ordered in November 1916, only one was flown.
During testing, this aircraft experienced excessive vibration problems and a limited performance increase, leading to the discontinuation of further development.
Specifications
Crew
1
Length
7.33 m (24 ft 1 in)
Wingspan
9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
Height
2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
Wing area
20.50 m2 (220.7 sq ft)
Powerplant
1 × Mercedes D.III,
Water cooled inline piston engine,
120 kW (160 hp)
Propellers
2-bladed wooden propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
165 km/h (103 mph, 89 kn)
Range
350 km (220 mi, 190 nmi)
Endurance
2 hours, 12 minutes
Rate of climb
2.6 m/s (510 ft/min)
Time to altitude
5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 32 minutes.
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. The World’s Great Bombers: 1914 to the Present Day-C Chant. Windsock Worldwide Vol.25, No.5 – September October 2009. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.1: Early Two-Seaters-Jack Herris. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.2: Late Two-Seaters-Jack Herris. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.3: Bombers, Seaplanes J Types-Jack Herris. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.4: Fighters-Jack Herris.
