AEG C.IV
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The AEG C.IV was a two-seat
biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...
reconnaissance aircraft A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence (including using Aerial photography, photography), signals ...
designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft. The C.IV was developed from the earlier AEG C.II in response to an urgent requirement from the
Luftstreitkräfte The ''Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte'' (, German Air Combat Forces)known before October 1916 as (The Imperial German Air Service, lit. "The flying troops of the German Kaiser’s Reich")was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-langu ...
(Imperial German Army Air Service) for better fixed-wing
aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or Strategy, strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including Artillery observer, artillery spott ...
platforms. Featuring a relatively short fuselage in comparison to its wingspan, it appeared somewhat ungainly. The aircraft's structure was largely composed of steel tubing; uncommon features of the design included a distinctive 'bite' on the
trailing edge The trailing edge of an aerodynamic surface such as a wing is its rear edge, where the airflow separated by the leading edge meets.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 521. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. ...
of the wing on production aircraft, and the three-position adjustable tail plane incidence. To accelerate production, the Dutch aircraft manufacturer
Fokker Fokker (; ) was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer that operated from 1912 to 1996. The company was founded by the Dutch aviator Anthony Fokker and became famous during World War I for its fighter aircraft. During its most successful period in the 19 ...
were ordered to produce the C.IV under license. Entering service with the Luftstreitkräfte during 1916, the C.IV promptly proved itself to be a capable aircraft. In addition to performing reconnaissance missions, it was also used as a bomber escort, despite being inadequately powered for this role. Several variants, including the ''C.IV.N'' and the ''C.IVa'', were developed. It continued to be operated by the Luftstreitkräfte through to the end of the conflict. In addition to its use by the German Empire, the C.IV also drew the attention of other nations, both the Turkish Flying Corps and
Polish Air Force The Polish Air Force () is the aerial warfare Military branch, branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as ''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' (). In 2014 it consisted of roughly 26,000 military personnel an ...
would operate numerous aircraft while other nations, such as Belgium, evaluated the type. It saw extensive combat use during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1920 prior to being withdrawn for good during the early 1920s.


Design and development

By 1916, a growing number of senior officers within the
Luftstreitkräfte The ''Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte'' (, German Air Combat Forces)known before October 1916 as (The Imperial German Air Service, lit. "The flying troops of the German Kaiser’s Reich")was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-langu ...
(Imperial German Army Air Service) were advocated for greater emphasis to be placed upon
aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance is reconnaissance for a military or Strategy, strategic purpose that is conducted using reconnaissance aircraft. The role of reconnaissance can fulfil a variety of requirements including Artillery observer, artillery spott ...
, noting both its value and the increased capability for such missions that the production of a new generation of purpose-build reconnaissance aircraft could bring to Germany's war effort. As such, several factories were tasked with the rapid development and production of C type aircraft with the intention of equipping several new frontline squadrons as soon as feasibly possible. It was under this programme that the C.IV would be selected and placed into production.Gray and Thetford 1970, p. 3. The design of the C.IV was heavily derived from the earlier AEG C.II, the most visually obvious differences being the new aircraft's enlarged wingspan and the adoption of an additional forward-firing Spandau-type 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun. It had a relatively short fuselage that gave it a somewhat ungainly appearance. Structurally, aside from the wooden ribs within the wing, various gauges of steel tubing were used, the fuselage featuring braced box-girder construction, which was mostly welded together; this construction approach was uncommon at the time amongst German aircraft. Key locations were strengthened via steel
lug nut A lug nut or wheel nut is a fastener, specifically a nut (hardware), nut, used to secure a wheel on a vehicle. Typically, lug nuts are found on automobiles, trucks (lorries), and other large vehicles using rubber tires. Design A lug nut is a ...
s, which were also used as mounting points for the attachment of bracing cables. The C.IV was powered by a single Mercedes D.III six-cylinder inline
piston engine A reciprocating engine, more often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more Reciprocating motion, reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a Circular motion, rotating motion. This article ...
, capable of producing up to 160 hp, that was housed within the aircraft's bulbous nose. A sizable
radiator A radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics. A radiator is always a ...
was located on the direct underside of the aircraft's main spar to cool the engine, while a large exhaust manifold was set above the top wing. The wings were supported by a pair of steel tube spars; the wooden ribs were interspaced with false ribs while the
aileron An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement aroun ...
wires ran inside a steel tube in the lower wing mounted after aft of front spar, providing additional structural strength. The
trailing edge The trailing edge of an aerodynamic surface such as a wing is its rear edge, where the airflow separated by the leading edge meets.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 521. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. ...
of the wing was slightly scalloped, as per typical German aircraft conventions of the era, and had a distinctive 'bite' on production aircraft. Both the tail surfaces and ailerons were unbalanced and featured metal construction; a somewhat unique feature was the adjustable tail plane incidence.Gray and Thetford 1970, p. 4. In order to achieve a sufficient rate of production, multiple companies were engaged in the programme. The Dutch aircraft manufacturer
Fokker Fokker (; ) was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer that operated from 1912 to 1996. The company was founded by the Dutch aviator Anthony Fokker and became famous during World War I for its fighter aircraft. During its most successful period in the 19 ...
were ordered to produce the C.IV under license, despite the alleged dissatisfaction of the company's founder,
Anthony Fokker Anton Herman Gerard "Anthony" Fokker (6 April 1890 – 23 December 1939) was a Dutch aviation pioneer, aviation entrepreneur, aircraft designer, and aircraft manufacturer. He produced fighter aircraft in Germany during the First World War such ...
. By June 1917, around 170 aircraft were believed to have been in service across all battlefronts of the
Central Powers The Central Powers, also known as the Central Empires,; ; , ; were one of the two main coalitions that fought in World War I (1914–1918). It consisted of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulga ...
; as late as August 1918, at least 40 C.IVs remained in an operational condition.Gray and Thetford 1970, p. 5. The C.IV was easily the most successful of AEG's
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
-era B- and C-type reconnaissance aircraft, roughly 687 were reportedly built while the model remained in service right up to the end of the conflict. Various initiatives were undertaken towards improving the aircraft. One variant that was developed in 1917, the ''C.IV.N'', was designed specifically as a prototype night
bomber A bomber is a military combat aircraft that utilizes air-to-ground weaponry to drop bombs, launch aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploy air-launched cruise missiles. There are two major classifications of bomber: strategic and tactical. Strateg ...
; it was outfitted with the Benz Bz.III engine used in other C-types along with a lengthened wingspan. Another variant, the ''C.IVa'', was powered by a 130 kW (180 hp) Argus As III engine.Gray and Thetford 1970, pp. 3-5. A large number of 91 C.IVs were captured by the Polish in 1919, the majority of them having been in
Poznań Poznań ( ) is a city on the Warta, River Warta in west Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John's ...
during the Greater Poland Uprising. Most of these aircraft were retained and entered service with the newly emerged
Polish Air Force The Polish Air Force () is the aerial warfare Military branch, branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as ''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' (). In 2014 it consisted of roughly 26,000 military personnel an ...
. It became one of the service's standard aircraft, and was frequently used to conduct reconnaissance, bombing, and strafing actions during Polish-Soviet War of 1919–1920. Shortly after the conflict's end, the majority of Polish C.IVs were permanently withdrawn.Morgała, Andrzej (1997). ''Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1918-1924''. Warsaw, Poland: Lampart. , p. 12


Operators

;: Bulgarian Air Force ;: Luftstreitkrafte ;: Hejaz Air Force - single example, not airworthy ;:
Polish Air Force The Polish Air Force () is the aerial warfare Military branch, branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as ''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' (). In 2014 it consisted of roughly 26,000 military personnel an ...
- up to 91 aircraft, used postwar ;: Ottoman Air Force


Specifications (AEG C.IV)


See also


References


Citations


Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{Authority control C.IV Single-engined tractor aircraft Biplanes 1910s German military reconnaissance aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1916 Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft