Otto_C.I
Otto C.I
Type of aircraft
The Otto C.I, also known as the Otto KD.15, was a German two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War designed and produced by Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik. The C.I was a rare example of an aircraft flown by the Central Powers which had a pusher configuration.
| C.I | |
|---|---|
| Upturned Otto C.I after an accident near Thessaloniki | |
| Role | Reconnaissance, bomber |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik |
| Designer | Gustav Otto |
| First flight | 1915 |
| Introduction | 1915 |
| Retired | 1917 |
| Primary users | Bulgarian Air Force Luftstreitkräfte |
| Number built | 25 |
The German aeronautical engineer Gustav Otto designed the C.I as a reconnaissance aircraft for use by the Imperial German Flying Corps. It was an all wooden, fabric covered twin boom design with box-shaped booms. Forward was a large fuselage gondola with two seats, the observer sitting at the fore and the pilot to the rear.[1] Behind the pilot was a six-cylinder engine driving a pusher propeller.
The unarmed prototype first flew in May or June 1915, named KD.15 and powered by a 150 kW (200 hp) Rapp engine.[2] Production examples were given the official designation C.I and the observer was provided with a single machine gun for defence.[3] The Rapp engine proved unreliable so production aircraft were also equipped with the lower-powered 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III or 112 kW (150 hp) Benz Bz.III.[2]
The aircraft was produced in small numbers and proved to be the last made by the company.[1] It is unrelated to the C.II made under license for LVG by Otto.[4]
The C.I entered very limited service with the Imperial German Air Service, serving only with Bavarian Feldflieger Abteilung like 4b, 8b and 9b.[2] They were delivered in two batches, each of six aircraft, ordered in August and November 1915 respectively, and served until at least April 1916.[3]
Initially considered "good for nothing" by the Bavarian airmen who first flew them, the aircraft gained a positive reputation during their short careers.[5] They were favourably viewed for their stability and reliability yet were nimble with good handling characteristics both on the ground and in the air.[6]
The aircraft saw limited export success, being sold to the Bulgarian Air Force in 1915.[7] Thirteen were delivered to Bozhurishte in spring 1916, serving with 2 Aeroplane Otdelenie based at Udovo.[6] The first batch was powered by the Benz engine, while the latter used the slightly more powerful Mercedes inline.[7] These aircraft were used in the bombing and reconnaissance role.[8] They served until 1917, when they were replaced by the more capable Albatros C.III.
Data from German Aircraft of the First World War[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 14.50 m (47 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 47 m2 (510 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 915 kg (2,017 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz.III six-cylinder, water-cooled, inline engine, 112 kW (150 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
Armament
- Guns: 1 x Parabellum MG 14 machine guns
- Bombs: 6 × 10 kilograms (22 lb) bombs for a total of 60 kilograms (130 lb)
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
Notes
Bibliography
- Anderson, Lennart (November–December 2019). "La renaissance de l'aviation militair bulgare dans les années vingt" [The Rebirth of Bulgarian Military Aviation in the Twenties]. Avions (in French) (232): 52–66. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Flanagan, Brian P. (1982). "A History of the Bulgarian Air Force 1892-1919". Cross & Cockade Journal. 23 (2): 144–159.
- Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen (1987) [1970]. German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
- Grosz, Peter M (1995). "Otto B and C type". Windsock. 11 (1).
- Herris, Jack (2020). German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series (50). Vol. 2: Krieger to Union. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-86-5.
- Herris, Jack (2007). "Rare Birds: The Otto C.I". Over the Front. 22 (2).
- Nedialkov, Dimitar (2001). Vŭzdushnata mosht na T︠s︡arstvo Bŭlgarii︠a︡ Въздушната мощ на Царство България [Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria Part 2] (in Bulgarian). Sofia: Fark.