Rumpler C.VII

The Rumpler C.VII was a military reconnaissance aircraft built in Germany during World War I. It was developed from the C.IV and optimised for high-altitude missions that would allow it to operate at heights that would render it immune to interception by enemy fighters. Work on the C.VII took place after a similar attempt to develop the C.III into a high-altitude machine as the C.V failed.

Design and development
The most significant difference between the C.IV and C.VII was the choice of the Maybach Mb IVa engine to replace the Mercedes D.IV. Although the Maybach engine was around 8% less powerful than the Mercedes (when measured at the sea level), it could continue to provide most of its power output while at altitude, where power from the Mercedes engine decreased more rapidly as height increased. Other changes included wings of slightly greater area and an airscrew of larger diameter. The crew were provided with oxygen generators and electrically-heated flight suits.

Rumpler produced the C.VII in two versions: a standard radio-equipped reconnaissance machine, and a photographic version named the Rubild (or Rubilt) (Bild means "picture" in German).

Operational history
The two versions of the Rumpler C.VII were in service simultaneously. The "standard" C.VII was used for "armed" long-distance reconnaissance. The armament was one fixed and one manually operated 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun at the observer/gunner's rear position (the observer also operated a radio). The "Rubild" was a "stripped-down" version that dispensed with the forward gun and eliminated all other extraneous equipment in order to carry specialized cameras.

The Rubild was capable of operating as high as 7,300 m (24,000 ft), and could maintain 160 km/h (100 mph) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft). The high-altitude version proved practically invulnerable to interception above 5,500 m (18,000 ft). Allied combat reports most often featured the high-flying Rubild which could operate regularly at altitudes above 6,100 m (20,000 ft). The type was particularly difficult to intercept, as the Allied fighters were seldom able even to climb to such altitude:

"It was an exception to the rule to see an S.E. (5) above 17,000 feet..."

- Major James McCudden

At the end of the war, at least one Rumpler C.VII was captured and sent to the United States.

Operators

 * German Empire
 * Luftstreitkräfte
 * Swiss Air Force
 * Kingdom of Yugoslavia
 * Yugoslav Royal Air Force - Postwar.
 * Yugoslav Royal Air Force - Postwar.