The AEG J.I was a German biplane ground attack aircraft of 1917, an armored and more powerful version of the AEG C.IV reconnaissance aircraft.[1]
Design and development[]
AEG J.I featured armour protection for the pilot and for the more powerful engine that was fitted to the heavier aircraft. Two 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine guns were fitted to the floor of the observer's cockpit for ground targets. One 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun was provided in the typical rear-facing defensive position. Finally, armour plating was added around the engine and cockpits.[1]
Aircraft fitted with ailerons on the lower wing as well as the upper wing were designated AEG J.Ia.[1]
An improved version of the J.I was developed as the AEG J.II, which had aerodynamically balance aiterons with overhanging horn balances, extended rear fuselage with a larger fin to improve directional stability and a re-located aileron link strut.[1]
After the war, several J.IIs served the first sustained daily passenger aeroplane service in the world, between Berlin and Weimar, flown by Deutsche Luft-Reederei. This route began on 5 February 1919. Early commercial J.II's retained open cockpits, but modified versions with enclosed cabins for the two passengers quickly replaced them.[2]
Variants[]
- AEG J.I
- An armoured version of the AEG C.IV fitted with downward pointing machine guns in the floor of the rear cockpit for ground strafing and a defensive hand-aimed machine-gun in the observers cockpit.[1]
- AEG J.Ia
- The J.Ia version featured aileron controls on the lower wings, in addition to the upper.[1]
- AEG J.II
- Structurally similar to the J.I the J.II introduced ailerons aerodynamically balanced by large horn extensions at the wing-tips, increased fin area to improve directional stability and a re-located aileron link strut.[1]
Operators[]
German Empire
- Luftstreitkräfte
- Deutsche Luft-Reederei
Specifications (AEG J.I)[]
Data from German Aircraft of the First World War[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 13.46 m (44 ft 2 in)
- Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 33.18 m2 (357.1 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,455 kg (3,208 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz IV 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine, 149 kW (200 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
- Range: 375 km (233 mi; 202 nmi)
- Endurance: 2.5hr
- Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,764 ft)
- Rate of climb: 2.78 m/s (547 ft/min)
- Time to altitude: 1,000m in 6min
Armament
- Guns: * up to 6 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) fixed, downwards-firing LMG 08/15 machine guns (standard fit of 2)
- 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 in rear cockpit
See also[]
References[]
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- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-00103-6.
- ↑ Michael J.H. Taylor, ed (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation (2nd ed.). New York: Portland House. ISBN 0-517-69186-8.
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The original article can be found at AEG J.I and the edit history here.