Rumpler C.I and successor aircraft

After the successful production of the Rumpler reconnaissance aircraft of type B, the company Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke began in 1915 with the development of armed reconnaissance aircraft. The thus developed Rumpler C.I was due to their good flight characteristics to one of the longest used in the war types of C aircraft.

 

Development and construction:

Etrich Taube was a pioneer of German aviation and founded by his well-known Rumpler Taube the construction of military aviation in the German Empire. At the beginning of the war, the reconnaissance aircraft Rumpler B, developed by him, formed the core of the German army aviators. With the advent of the first Allied fighter aircraft also began in 1915, the development of armed aircraft.

Based on the Rumpler B.I, the prototype Rumpler C.I was built. From the optics, the aircraft was very similar to the Rumpler Taube, as this also had the typical tail with the Schleifsporn. Likewise, the wings were slightly stalked and had a vista on the fuselage, so that the pilot had a better view down.

Equipped was the C.I with the already used 160hp Mercedes D III engine, some aircraft were later also equipped with the 180hp Opel-Argus As.III inline engine, which, however, was not as reliable.

The observer had a swiveling Parabellum machine gun 14, the pilot on a mounted on the left of the fuselage, rigidly forward-looking, synchronized machine gun.

After the test flights and the presentation before the military leadership were successful, the aircraft was produced in large numbers. In addition to the Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke, it was also produced under license by the Germania Flugzeugwerke, the Märkische Flugzeug-Werke, the Hannoversche Waggonfabrik and the Albert Rinne Flugzeug-Werke until 1917. For the German Navy, the modified Rumpler 6B1 was delivered with floats.

 

The successor model Rumpler C.II did not go beyond the status of a prototype. For this, the Rumpler C.III was produced in larger quantities from the end of 1916. This had wings with different depths, shorter rear wings and a stronger 22ohp Benz Bz IV engine.

The Rumpler C.IV had only slight modifications, but the even stronger 260hp Mercedes D IVa engine.

The next variants Rumpler C.V and Rumpler C.VI remained, like the Rumpler C.II only in the prototype status.

In 1917, the C.VII was used, which proved to be an excellent remote reconnaissance aircraft. Although the slightly less powerful Maybach Mb IVa engine with 245hp was installed, its higher compression enabled the lower horsepower numbers to be compensated. To save weight, the machine gun of the pilot was no longer installed, but the aircraft received an altitude recorder, oxygen systems, heated flight suits and an observer handheld camera.

The further developments of the types C.VIII, C.IX and C.X remained only prototypes and were not produced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use in the First World War:

The used in 1915 at the front Rumpler C.I remained until 1917 in use. Subsequently, the aircraft were used to the secondary theater in the Middle East and the Balkans until the end of the war, where it served as a reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber.

The aircraft Rumpler C.IV and C.VII remained due to their good flight characteristics until the end of the war on the Western Front.

 

 

 

Technical specifications:

Designation:	Rumpler C.I
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Armed reconnaissance aircraft
Length:	7,85 meters
Span:	12,15 meters
Height:	3,05 meters
Mass:	793kg empty
Crew:	Max. 2
Engine:	Water-cooled inline engine Mercedes D III with 160hp or Opel-Argus As III with 180hp
Maximum speed:	150 km/h
Reach:	600 kilometre
Armament:	1 x machine gun 7,92 mm Parabellum, 1 x 7,92 mm 08/15 Spandau machine gun and up to 100Kg bombs

 

 

 

Designation:	Rumpler C.III
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Armed reconnaissance aircraft
Length:	8,2 meters
Span:	12,66 meters
Height:	3,25 meters
Mass:	839kg empty
Crew:	Max. 2
Engine:	Water-cooled in-line engine Benz Bz IV with 220hp
Maximum speed:	136 km/h
Reach:	480 kilometre
Armament:	1 x machine gun 7,92 mm Parabellum, 1 x 7,92 mm 08/15 Spandau machine gun and up to 100Kg bombs

 

 

 

Designation:	Rumpler C.IV
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Armed reconnaissance aircraft
Length:	8,4 meters
Span:	12,66 meters
Height:	3,2 meters
Mass:	1.050kg empty
Crew:	Max. 2
Engine:	water cooled inline engine Mercedes D IVa with 260hp
Maximum speed:	175 km/h
Reach:	585 empty
Armament:	1 x machine gun 7,92 mm Parabellum, 1 x 7,92 mm 08/15 Spandau machine gun and up to 100Kg bombs

 

 

 

Designation:	Rumpler C.VII
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Armed reconnaissance aircraft
Length:	8,2 meters
Span:	12,55 meters
Height:	3,4 meters
Mass:	1.050kg empty
Crew:	Max. 2
Engine:	Water-cooled in-line engine Maybach Mb IVa with 245hp
Maximum speed:	175 km/h
Reach:	585 kilometre
Armament:	1 x machine gun 7,92 mm Parabellum and 1 x 7,92 mm 08/15 Spandau machine gun

 

 

 

 

 

You can find the right literature here:

 

Fokker Dr I Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces)

Undoubtedly the most famous fighter type to see service on either side during World War 1, the Fokker Dr I was a revelation when it entered service on the western front in 1917. Manfred von Richthofen’s JG 1 ‘circus’ was the first Jasta to completely re-equip with the new fighter, and in the skilled hands of its numerous aces the Dr I proved a formidable opponent. The Dr I remained in service on the Western Front until replaced by the superior Fokker D VII in May 1918. Just weeks prior to that, however, Germany’s leading ace, the great ‘Red Baron’, had been killed at the controls of a Dr I.

Click here!

 

 

Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes (Great War Aviation) (Volume 21)

This book describes and illustrates the development of Friedrichshafen aircraft of WWI with text, 540 photos, 18 in color, 37 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications. In addition, there are 26 official SVK drawings and 11 aircraft are illustrated in scale drawings to 1/48 (4) or 1/72 (7) scales. The book has 312 pages and is of interest to aviation historians, enthusiasts, and modelers alike.

Click here!

 

 

German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Manufacturers 1908-1918

Much has been written about the British aircraft of the First World War, but little has surfaced about the aircraft of the Axis powers, Germany and Austria. Here, Terry C. Treadwell tells the story of the aircraft from companies such as Fokker, builder of the famous triplane, as fl own by Baron von Richthofen's Flying Circus, AEG, Albatros, Junkers and Hansa. From reconnaissance aircraft to state-of-the-art bombers that could reach London, this is the definitive guide to aircraft of the Axis powers during the First World War. The aircraft are explained in detail and a history of each company is provided, making this an excellent source book for aircraft enthusiasts, model makers and those interested in the air war over the trenches of France and Belgium, as well as further afield in the Italian campaign.

Click here!

 

 

The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division

The standard reference now revised and expanded. Dr. Robinson has opened up his vast photo archives to enhance this new edition of his classic work. Much of the new photographic material is published here for the first time.

Click here!

 

 

 

 

 

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