Performance: Maximum speed 139 mph, Endurance 2 hours, Service ceiling 32,850 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none S.P.A.D. XIII Dimensions: Wingspan 26 ft 6½ ins, Length 20 ft 8 ins, Height 7 ft 8½ ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 8,472 Further development of the S.P.A.D. VII led to the S.P.A.D. XIII which flew for the first time in April 1917, and for the first time a French fighter was armed with twin machine guns. The S.P.A.D. XIII was powered by a 220 hp Hispano-Suiza engine which gave the aircraft a speed of 139 mph and a good endurance and climb rate. The S.P.A.D. XIII began to enter service in May 1917 and quickly replaced the S.P.A.D. VII, and by the Armistice the S.P.A.D. XIII had been issued to 74 Escadrilles in French service, with many historians attributing the Allied dominance of the air over the Western Front by late 1918 to this aircraft. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,245 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,863 lbs Powerplant: One 220 hp Hispano-Suiza inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 103 mph, Endurance 5 hours, Service ceiling 15,000 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload 882 lbs A.E.G. G.IV Dimensions: Wingspan 60 ft 4½ ins, Length 31 ft 9¾ ins, Height 12 ft 9½ ins Crew: 3/4 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 320 At the end of 1916 the A.E.G. G.IV entered service with the Imperial German Flying Corps. They were powered by two 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa inline engines that allowed a crew of four to be carried, although they normally only carried three. The G.IV had the best performance of any of the company’s ‘G’ series of aircraft, but was hampered by a limited range when carrying its maximum bombload, and because of this they were not used on bombing raids over England. Instead they were deployed on short range operations behind Allied lines on the Western Front, or occassionally as a long range reconnaissance aircraft. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,291 lbs, Maximum take-off 8,003 lbs Powerplant: Two 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa inline engines Performance: Maximum speed 120 mph, Endurance 2½ hours, Service ceiling 18,000 ft Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch machine gun Bombload none S.P.A.D. VII Dimensions: Wingspan 25 ft 8 ins, Length 19 ft 11 ins, Height 7 ft 3 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 6,000 In 1916 the prototype S.P.A.D. S.VII appeared which retained several features of the company’s earlier A.2, notably the one bay wing with intermediate struts. The aircraft was powered by a 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engine and first flew in May. French officials were so impressed with its performance that the aircraft was immediately placed in production, and in August 1916 The S.P.A.D. VII began to reach French front line units where it replaced the Nieuport 17 as the primary French scout aircraft. The S.P.A.D. VII soon gained a reputation as being fast, reliable, and capable of sustaining considerable damage and survive. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,102 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,554 lbs Powerplant: One 150 hp Hispano-Suiza 8A inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 110 mph, Endurance 2 hours, Service ceiling 18,000 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload none Albatros D.III Dimensions: Wingspan 29 ft 6 ins, Length 24 ft, Height 9 ft 6 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 2,400+ In October 1916 an order for 400 Albatros D.III aircraft was placed, the largest contract issued to date in Germany. They began to enter service in early 1917 and had an immediate impact on the air war as the allies had no aircraft to match the new German fighter at the time, and in April they devastated the R.F.C. over the Western Front, which would later be known as ‘Bloody April’. D.III’s were used by a number of German aces, including Ernst Udet, Werner Voss and Manfred von Richtofen, and remained in service, although in dwindling numbers, until the end of World War One, along with the improved D.V. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,532 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,949 lbs Powerplant: One 160 hp Mercedes inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 95 mph, Endurance 3 hours, Service ceiling 13,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 260 lbs Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.8 Dimensions: Wingspan 43 ft 6 ins, Length 31 ft 5 ins, Height 10 ft 10 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 1,701 The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was designed as a replacement for the outdated B.E.2. The prototype first flew in May 1916 with 50 aircraft being ordered as the as a safeguard against the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8, which at the time was still under development. The FK.8 provided excellent service with the Royal Flying Corps, particularly in the roles of artillery spotting and as a light bomber. Just as important, they were able to hold their own against contemporary enemy fighters, and often got away from seemingly impossible combat situations. Because of these virtues they proved more popular than the better known R.E.8. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,916 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,811 lbs Powerplant: One 160 hp Beardmore inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 117 mph, Endurance 2¾ hours, Service ceiling 20,500 ft Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch machine gun Bombload none Sopwith Triplane Dimensions: Wingspan 26 ft 6 ins, Length 18 ft 10 ins, Height 10 ft 6 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 147 Early in 1916 Sopwith began to design a triplane scout fighter as a private venture. It was a neat design powered by a 110 h.p. Clerget engine, the fuselage closely following that of the earlier Pup. Production began in late 1916 and they first entered service in December with No. 1 Naval Squadron at Bailleul, France. Pilots nicknamed the aircraft the ‘Tripehound’ or ‘Tripe’, and was most famously flown by No 10 Naval Squadron's B Flight, better known as ‘Black Flight’, who claimed 87 German aircraft in three months while flying the type. The Germans were so impressed with the aircraft that it inspired Fokker to produce his triplane. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,101 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,541 lbs Powerplant: One 130 hp Clerget rotary engine Performance: Maximum speed 93 mph, Endurance 2½ hours, Service ceiling 14,800 ft Armament: 3 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload none A.E.G. J.II Dimensions: Wingspan 44 ft 2 ins, Length 23 ft 7 ins, Height 11 ft Crew: 2 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 600+ The A.E.G. J.II was a ground attack aircraft for use by the newly created infantry support units of the German air service in 1916. These aircraft had two machine guns mounted in the floor of the observer's cockpit at a forward angle of 45º in order to strafe ground targets at low level, and in order to protect the crew and engine from grounfire carried 860 lbs of 5 mm armour plate. Along with ither similar types, they were deployed en masse during the German spring offensive of 1918. After World War One a few aircraft were briefly used for the first daily passenger aircraft service in the world, between Berlin and Weimar. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,208 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,883 lbs Powerplant: One 200 hp Benz Bz IV inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 112 mph, Endurance 2 hours, Service ceiling 16,400 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload none Roland D.II Dimensions: Wingspan 29 ft 4 ins, Length 22 ft 8 ins, Height 10 ft 2½ ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 300 Roland’s first major success was the C.II reconnaissance aircraft of 1916, but they also designed and built scout fighters in limited numbers. Their first scout was the D.I which appeared in July 1916 and resembled a scaled down C.II, being powered by the same 160 hp Mercedes D.III inline engine which gave the aircraft a speed of 112 mph. This was quickly followed by the D.II which was virtually identical, but appeared at the same time as the superior Albatros fighter. In total only 20 D.Is and 300 D.IIs were built which were used as home defence fighters, although at least one Jasta served on the Macedonian Front in 1917. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,573 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,099 lbs Powerplant: One 160 hp Mercedes D.III inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 124 mph, Endurance 2 hours, Service ceiling 19,000 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload none Roland D.VI Dimensions: Wingspan 29 ft 4 ins, Length 22 ft 8 ins, Height 10 ft 2½ ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 300 The last aircraft Roland placed in production was the D.VIa scout fighter. Designed in 1917, the D.VIa featured a streamlined fuselage constructed of overlapping plywood planks, similar to clinker built boats. They were powered by a 185 hp Daimler-Mercedes D.IIIa engine, with the first aircraft reaching the frontline in May 1918, and it is believed that they were used by Jastas 23, 32, 33, 35, as well as naval aviation squadrons. By the end of June, fifty-five aircraft were in service with a further seventy being on strength in August. They performed well as a fighter but were were no match for the Fokker D.VII. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,446 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,865 lbs Powerplant: One 185 hp Mercedes D.IIIa inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 90 mph, Endurance 3½ hours, Service ceiling 14,300 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none Anatra Anasal Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 6 ins, Length 26 ft 7 ins, Height 10 ft 6 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 180+ Anatra was a Russian aircraft manufacturer that was founded in Odessa during 1909. Their first successful design was the Anatra D Anade which was built in small numbers, soon being followed by the Anatra DS or Anasal, a two seat development of the aircraft, the main difference being the replacement of a 100 hp rotary engine for a 150 hp radial engine. The Anasal first flew in August 1916 with orders being placed in early 1917, and by the time of the revolution in November about 65 had been built, while many more were at different stages of construction, the type being used by both sides during the struggle. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,795 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,566 lbs Powerplant: One 150 hp Salmson radial engine
Performance: Maximum speed 123 mph, Endurance 3 hours, Service ceiling 18,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 250 lbs
Bristol F.2B Fighter
Dimensions: Wingspan 39 ft 3 ins, Length 25 ft 10 ins, Height 9 ft 9 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 5,329
In the spring of 1916 The Bristol Aeroplane Company began on a design to replace the ageing B.E.2c. The new aircraft was designed around the 190 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon inline engine and was armed with a fixed forward firing 0.303 inch machine gun for the pilot and a 0.303 inch Lewis machine gun for the observer. The prototype first flew in September 1916, and proved to be fast, agile and robust, and was immediately placed in production. At first the type had an inauspicious start, but when pilots realised they could fly the aircraft like a fighter they became a formidable opponent, and went on to have an illustrious career. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,145 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,243 lbs Powerplant: One 275 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon III inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 85 mph, Range 350 miles, Service ceiling 15,900 ft Armament: 2 x 6.5 mm machine guns, Bombload 1,764 lbs Caproni Ca.3 Dimensions: Wingspan 74 ft 7 ins, Length 36 ft 3 ins, Height 12 ft 2 ins Crew: 4 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 350+ The Caproni Ca.3 was a three engined Italian bomber development of the Caproni Ca.1 that had first flew in 1914. The prototype Ca.3 first took to the air in late 1916 and was soon put into production, with the first aircraft entering service in early 1917. Between 250 and 300 were built, with a further 83 being constructed in France where they equipped several of their escadrilles, as well as a small number being supplied to U.S. forces when they entered the war. The Ca.3 remained in service for the rest of World War One, and with the Italians performed well against Austrian forces, particularly over the Alpine battlefields. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,071 lbs, Maximum take-off 8,378 lbs Powerplant: Three 150 hp Isotta-Fraschini V.4B inline engines Performance: Maximum speed 128 mph, Endurance 2 hours, Service ceiling 21,000 ft Armament: 4 x 0.303 inch machine guns, Bombload 100 lbs Sopwith Dolphin Dimensions: Wingspan 32 ft 6 ins, Length 22 ft 3 ins, Height 8 ft 6 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 1,778 In early 1917 Sopwith began to design a fighter powered by the new 200 hp Hispano-Suiza 8B engine, the first Sopwith design to use an inline engine. To provide a good view for the pilot his head protruded through the upper wing which was attached to an open frame above the cockpit. The Dolphin was designed to carry four machine guns, two Vickers firing forward through the propeller arc and two Lewis guns inclined at 45 degrees, while four 25 lb Cooper bombs could be carried for the ground attack role. They entered service in late 1917 and equipped four squadrons, while other squadrons used them in small numbers. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,410 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,959 lbs Powerplant: One 200 hp Hispano Suiza inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 87 mph, Endurance 2½ hours, Service ceiling 14,800 ft Armament: 3 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload none Albatros J.I Dimensions: Wingspan 46 ft 4¾ ins, Length 28 ft 11¾ ins, Height 11 ft ½ ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1918 Number built: 240+ The Albatros J.I was a dedicated ground attack aircraft whose primary armament was two fixed 7.7 mm LMG machine guns that were aligned to fire obliquely forward and downwards at an angle of 45°. They began to be issued to German units in early 1918, and were first used during the Battle of Lys in the opening stages of the German Spring Offensive, where they were deployed in large numbers flying at low level strafing allied trenches. The aircraft was popular with its crews, and proved a success operationally when used with the storm-trooper tactics deployed during the opening stages of the offensive. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,280 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,986 lbs Powerplant: One 200 hp Benz Bz.IV inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 103 mph, Endurance 2½ hours, Service ceiling 17,000 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 machine guns Pfalz D.III Dimensions: Wingspan 30 ft 10 ins, Length 22 ft 10 ins, Height 18 ft 9 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 950+ The Pfalz D.III was designed as a fighter aircraft for the German German Air Service during the First World War and began to enter service with operational units in August 1917, Jasta 10 being the first unit to receive the type, quickly followed by Jasta 4. The D.III was felt by many pilots as being inferior to the Albatros D.III and D.V, criticising the aircraft as having heavy controls, low speed and a lack of power, the Pfalz’s D.IIIs advantage however was its strength and sturdiness compared to the Albatros, and was widely used by the Jagdstaffeln from late 1917 to mid-1918 before serving as a training aircraft until the end of the war. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,532 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,056 lbs Powerplant: One 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIa inline engine
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Performance: Maximum speed 102 mph, Endurance 4½ hours Service ceiling 13,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns, Bombload 224 lbs Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 Dimensions: Wingspan 42 ft 7 ins, Length 27 ft 10 ins, Height 11 ft 4 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 4,077 The R.E.8 flew for the first time in June 1916, and was designed to replace the B.E.2. The aircraft had an improved performance and was better armed, having a synchronised forward firing machine gun being fitted for the pilot and one or two Lewis guns for the observer. They entered service in late 1916, but during 'Bloody April' in 1917 were shot down in large numbers during the worst period of the war for the Royal Flying Corps. The R.E.8 was never an outstanding aircraft, but served as the standard British reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft from mid-1917 until the end of World War One. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 1,577 lbs Maximum take-off 2,862 lbs Powerplant: One 150 hp RAF 4a inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 98 mph, Endurance 4 hours, Service ceiling 16,400 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload 220 lbs A.E.G. C.VI Dimensions: Wingspan 44 ft 1½ ins, Length 23 ft 5½ ins, Height 10 ft 1¼ ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 400+ The A.E.G. C.IV was similar in configuration to its predecessor the C.ll but a little larger. A more poerful 160 hp Mercedes Dlll inline engine powered the aircraft, while a fixed forward firing machine gun was provided for the pilot, along with other refinements. The A.E.G. C.IV saw service on most fronts from during the First World War on its introduction in 1916, with 40 still being recorded in active service during August 1918. They were usually supplied in small numbers to individual units and were popular with their pilots due to its reliability and handling in the air, although it could be tricky to land. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 1,764 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,469 lbs Powerplant: One 160 hp Mercedes DIII inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 130 mph, Endurance 1¾ hours Service ceiling 20,000 ft Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch machine gun, Bombload none Bristol M.1C ‘Bullet’ Dimensions: Wingspan 30 ft 9 ins, Length 20 ft 5 ins, Height 7 ft 10 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 130 The Bristol M.1A was designed as a private venture, and during trials in early 1916 the aircraft proved to have a sparkling performance, achieving a top speed of 132 mph from a modest 110 hp Le Rhône rotary engine. It was also very manoeuvrable, and in many ways superior in performance to much later types such as the S.E.5 and Sopwith Snipe. At a time when the allies badly needed a new fighter, prejudice against the monoplane kept it away from the Western Front, and as a result were only built in small numbers. 35 M.1Cs were sent to Macedonia and the Middle East in 1917 where they were successfully used in action. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 900 lbs Maximum take-off 1,350 lbs Powerplant: One 150 hp Bentley rotary engine Performance: Maximum speed 102 mph, Endurance 3 hours Service ceiling 12,500 ft Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch machine gun, Bombload none Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 Dimensions: Wingspan 40 ft 9 ins, Length 27 ft 3 ins, Height 11 ft 1½ ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 601 The B.E.12 was designed in late 1915 as a fighter, and was essentially a single seat B.E.2c with the front cockpit replaced by a large fuel tank and power provided by the new 150 hp R.A.F. 4a engine. In May 1916 the prototype was fitted with a synchronised Vickers machine gun, with the first unit to be issued with the aircraft being No.19 squadron. Over the Western Front the B.E.12c proved quite useless as a fighter and were soon withdrawn, many aircraft then serving with several Home Defence Squadrons in the U.K. until the end of the war, Zeppelin L.48 being shot down by a B.E.12 on the night of the 17th June 1917. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,635 lbs Maximum take-off 2,350 lbs Powerplant: One 150 hp RAF 4a inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 96 mph, Endurance 5 hours Service ceiling 14,000 ft Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch machine gun, Bombload 260 lbs Martinsyde G.100 ‘Elephant’ Dimensions: Wingspan 38 ft 6 ins, Length 26 ft 6 ins, Height 9 ft 8 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 272 The Martinsyde G.100 first flew in the autumn of 1915 and was intended to be a long-range fighter and escort aircraft and was unusually large for the role by the standards of the day. Deliveries to the R.F.C. commenced in mid 1916, and due to its size was nicknamed the 'Elephant' although it was also called the 'tinsyde’. G.100’s were first deployed over the Western Front, but were totally outclassed by the new German scouts then entering service. They were then redeployed as long range ground attack aircraft, but in 1917 surviving aircraft were transferred to other fronts where the opposition was less intense. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,795 lbs Maximum take-off 2,424 lbs Powerplant: One 120 hp Beardmore inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 93 mph, Endurance 2½ hours, Service ceiling 13,100 ft Armament: 1 x 7.92 mm machine gun Bombload none Halberstadt D.II Dimensions: Wingspan 28 ft 10 ins, Length 23 ft 11 ins, Height 8 ft 9 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1916 Number built: 210 The Halberstadt D.II entered service over the Western Front in June 1916 alongside the early Fokker D type fighters, and were mainly used to escort reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. In service they proved to be more popular than the Fokker D.II and D.III, but by the autumn superior allied fighters began to appear over the Western Front, and as a consequence the Halberstadt D.II was replaced by the Albatros D.II/III then entering service. The Halberstadt D.II was then used for training or transferred to other fronts, many aircraft being sent to Macedonia or Palestine where they were able to give a good account of themselves. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,144 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,606 lbs Powerplant: One 120 hp Mercedes inline engine Contents Contents 4 4 3 3 2 2
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