The AEG C.VIII was a
prototype
A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics, and Software prototyping, software programming. A prototype ...
two-seat
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 ...
built by the (AEG) during the
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 ...
for the
Imperial German Army
The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the leadership of Kingdom o ...
's ()
Imperial German Air Service
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor/empress, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imperial, Nebraska
* Imperial, Pennsylvania
* Impe ...
().
Three examples were built in an effort to improve on the unsuccessful
C.VII design, two of
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 ...
configuration, the other a
triplane
A triplane is a fixed-wing aircraft equipped with three vertically stacked wing planes. Tailplanes and canard (aeronautics), canard foreplanes are not normally included in this count, although they occasionally are.
Design principles
The trip ...
(the latter sometimes referred to as the C.VIII.Dr). Neither version offered enough of an improvement over aircraft already in service to make mass production worthwhile.
Development
The C.VII had been developed to the Inspectorate of Flying Troops ( ()'s requirement for a new type of two-seat aircraft, smaller than the existing C-type aircraft. These were to be used to equip protection flights () to escort reconnaissance aircraft.
[Gray & Thetford, p. xv] The C.VII had proven inferior to the submissions by and , but AEG hoped that a more aerodynamic version of the C.VII might be successful. ordered three prototypes in mid-1917 and AEG decided to build one as a triplane to appeal to 's fascination with triplanes at that time.
[Herris, p. 46]
Changes to the C.VIII included new multi-
wing spar
In a fixed-wing aircraft, the spar is often the main structural member of the wing, running spanwise at right angles (or thereabouts depending on wing sweep) to the fuselage. The spar carries flight loads and the weight of the wings while on ...
s, tall "ear"-type
radiators
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 ...
mounted on the sides of the fuselage, a new
tail structure with the
horizontal stabilizer
A tailplane, also known as a horizontal stabilizer, is a small lifting surface located on the tail ( empennage) behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed-wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplan ...
s supported by two struts and a single
interplane I-strut supporting the wings. The first of the biplanes was completed in July 1917. The triplane used the fuselage, engine and tail of the biplanes. An extra I-strut was added to support the extra weight of the wings. Neither design proved superior to the designs from other companies and they did not enter production.
[
]
Variants
* C.VIII - Biplane prototype two-seater fighter/reconnaissance aircraft.[
* C.VIII Dr - Triplane version of C.VIII, no improvement in climb and speed reduced to 165 km/h (103.12 mph)][
]
Specifications (C.VIII)
See also
References
Bibliography
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aeg C.Viii
C.VIII
Single-engined tractor aircraft
1910s German military reconnaissance aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1917
Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear
Triplanes
Single-engined piston aircraft