Germany - 1916 Albatros W.IV

Albatros Float Planes

Marine aviation was a vital part off the Great War. Both Great Britain and Germany understood the role it would play during this war and to future military planning. Albatros Flugzeugwerke began work in 1916 on a float plane based on the D.II airframe.

My profiles for the W.IV started with line drawings of the D.II to get the basic proportions and details and photos and color profiles as guides. The hexagon pattern was my first attempt an doing home made hex camouflage.

Prototype Albatros W.IV SN 747 - 1916

The Albatros W.IV was a German float plane version of the D.II with new wing and tail surfaces. Albatros Flugzeugwerke built 128 examples (including one prototype) between June 1916 and December 1917. The first test flight for the prototype (No 747) was in June 1916. The Albatros W.IV served with the Kaiserliche Marine, operating in the North Sea and Baltic theaters of war and later as trainers.

Production Model Albatros W.IV SN 1486 - 1916

The Albatros W.IV was powered by the same 160 hp (120 kW) Mercedes D.III water-cooled inline engine which was fitted to the Albatros D.II and the design was based around the same fuselage, the W.IV was armed with either one or two 0.312 in (7.92 mm) LMG 08/15 machine guns.

References

1. Albatros W.4. (2010, May 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:48, August 29, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albatros_W.4&oldid=360031523
2. Green, W. & Swanborough, G. (1994). "The Complete Book of Fighters". London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-85833-777-1
3. Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). "Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation". London: Studio Editions.