Aviatik B.II (Germany)
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The Aviatik B.II was a reconnaissance aircraft built in Germany during World War I.
| B.II (German) | |
|---|---|
| A German Aviatik B.II | |
| General information | |
| Type | Reconnaissance aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Aviatik (Germany) |
| Designer | Robert Wild |
| Primary user | Luftstreitkräfte |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1915 |
| First flight | 1915 |
| Retired | 1916 |
Design and development
The (German) Aviatik B.II was a two-seat biplane of conventional configuration that seated its pilot and observer in tandem, open cockpits. Compared to its predecessor, the B.I, the B.II had a more powerful engine and revised nose design that faired the powerplant in more neatly, and a single "rhino horn" collector stack for the exhaust. A variety of two- and three-bay wing designs were utilised during production. While originally no armament was fitted (in common with other B- class aircraft), later production versions received a machine gun for the observer. All were withdrawn from front line service by early 1916, however the type continued in use as a trainer for a time with advanced flying training units (it is known that the B.II served in this role at FEA 9 at Darmstadt during 1916).[1]
Operators
Specifications
Data from [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 12.35 m (40 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
- Gross weight: 1,071 kg (2,361 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.II 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 89 kW (120 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
- Endurance: 4 hours
- Service ceiling: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
