Hansa-Brandenburg B.I

The Hansa-Brandenburg B.I was an unarmed military trainer and reconnaissance biplane of World War I, flown by the Austro-Hungarian Air Service.

Early models were known internally to the Hansa-Brandenburg firm as the type D, while later models with a more powerful engine were designated FD.

This aircraft was one of the earliest designs of Ernst Heinkel, who was working for Hansa-Brandenburg at the time.

It was an entirely conventional two-bay biplane with staggered wings of unequal span.

The pilot and observer sat in tandem in a long open cockpit.

The aircraft was produced under license by Aero, both during the war and afterwards, and also by Letov, as the Š10.

Experience gained with this design would provide Aero with the basis for a number of derivative civil and military designs throughout the 1920s.

The design formed the basis for the C.I and C.II-armed reconnaissance types.

Variants

Both variants shared the military designation B.I

D

Initial version with Benz Bz.II engine

FD

Later version with Benz Bz.III engine

Specifications

Crew

2

Length

8.46 m (27 ft 9 in)

Wingspan

13.13 m (43 ft 1 in)

Height

2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)

Wing area

43.5 m2 (468 sq ft)

Empty weight

760 kg (1,676 lb)

Gross weight

1,060 kg (2,337 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Benz Bz.III,

6-cylinder water-cooled inline piston engine,

120 kW (160 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed

125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)

Range

300 km (190 mi, 160 nmi)

Service ceiling

3,200 m (10,500 ft)

Rate of climb

2.2 m/s (430 ft/min)