Rumpler B.I

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Rumpler B.I (factory designation 4A) was a military reconnaissance aircraft produced in Germany during World War I.[1]

TypeReconnaissance aircraft
National originGermany
Primary userLuftstreitkräfte
Quick facts B.I, General information ...
B.I
General information
TypeReconnaissance aircraft
National originGermany
ManufacturerRumpler
Primary userLuftstreitkräfte
Number builtca 225
History
First flight1914
Close

Design and development

The B.I was a conventional two-bay biplane with unstaggered wings of unequal span.[2] It featured two open cockpits in tandem and fixed, tailskid undercarriage.[2] Its upper wing reflected the wing design of the Etrich Taube that Rumpler was building at the time.[3]

Rumpler built 198 of these aircraft for the Luftstreitkräfte, plus 26 seaplane versions for the Imperial German Navy.[2]

Variants

  • 4A - landplane with Mercedes D.I engine, military designation B.I[3]
    • 4A13 - B.I with balanced, comma-style rudder[4]
    • 4A14 - version with Benz Bz.III engine[5]
  • 4B - seaplane
    • 4B1 - version with Mercedes D.I engine[6]
    • 4B2 - version with Benz Bz.III engine[6]
    • 4B11 - version with Benz Bz.I engine[5]
    • 4B12 - version with Benz Bz.III engine[5]

Operators

Specifications

Data from Gray & Thetford 1962, p.518

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two, pilot and observer
  • Length: 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
  • Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
  • Empty weight: 750 kg (1,650 lb)
  • Gross weight: 970 kg (2,100 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.I , 75 kW (100 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 145 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)

Notes

References

Further reading

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI