Germany -1915 - Siemens-Schuckert Steffen R.I

Germany's Split Tail Giant.

When looking at the R Type giants the idea of form follows function goes out the window. Today's Giant is definitely unusual. Although it is a double boom aircraft it is unique is the use of vertically stacked booms instead of the more orthodox lateral arrangement used on other aircraft.

Siemens-Schuckert Steffen R.I -1915

A Short History of the Siemens-Schuckert Steffen R.I

The Siemens-Schuckert Steffen R.I was a bomber aircraft designed and built in Germany from 1914.

December 1914 saw Siemens-Schuckert start the construction of a series of seven R aircraft, (Riesenflugzeug - giant aircraft) for the Imperial Military Aviation Service. These aircraft were essentially similar differing only in detail, engine installations and wing design. All of the seven Steffen designed aircraft were powered by three engines mounted in the forward compartment of the fuselage driving two tractor propellers mounted between the mainplanes via clutches, shafts and gearboxes.

The large forward compartment also housed the crew of between four and six in an enclosed cabin and open gun positions. Attached to the forward compartment were triangular section diverging booms, top and bottom, which supported the tail section, allowing the rear gunners, in positions between the boom attachments, a wide field of fire.

The R.I was used in non-operational roles at the eastern front and retained for training. R.II and R.III were used for training only, but R.IV, R.V, R.VI and R.VII were all used on operational missions by Rfa 501 (Riesenflugzeug abteilung) at Vilna on the eastern front.

References

1. From Wikipedia Siemens-Schuckert Steffen R.I, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens-Schuckert_Steffen_R.I
2. Haddow, G.W. & Grosz, Peter M. The German Giants, The Story of the R-planes 1914-1919 London. Putnam. 1963.
3. Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen. German Aircraft of the First World War. London, Putnam. ISBN 0 370 00103 6

Germany - 1918 - Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII

Riesenflugzeug Fever is Driving Me Crazy! (Baby!)

Slowly but surely I am working my way through a large number of 3 view plans to turn into profiles. I have taken a break from posting Staaken R types for the moment while I get more master files completed. I may start with the V.G.O series first. It provides a reference point design evolution of that family of giant aircraft. I think it is time for a side trip on our journey through the land of giants, so I'm going to work our way back in time to illustrate giant aircraft designed by Siemens-Schuckert Werke G.m.b.H., Siemensstadt. Berlin. My next post in the current series will be the on the Siemens-Schuckert Steffen R.I. I am still working on the master files for the R.III and 3 versions of the Forssman Giant.

Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII R23/16 - 1918

A Short History of the Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII

The Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII was a bomber aircraft designed and built in Germany.

Armed with the experience gained in the development of the Steffen R series, Siemens-Schuckert felt confident in their ability to produce even larger bombers. Their next project was developing a new design that dwarfed anything they had previously built. Their plan was to produce a six engined Riesenflugzeug for the Military Air Service.As with many of the other contemporary R projects the R.VIII had all six engines inside the fuselage, where they were tended by mechanics, driving two tractor and two pusher propellers, mounted between the main-planes, via leather cone clutches combining gearboxes, shafts and bevel gearboxes. Two aircraft were built but only the first, R23/16, was completed. Ground trials began in 1919, after the armistice. The trials were interrupted by a gearbox failure which resulted in a propeller breaking up and causing extensive damage to the aircraft.

The second airframe, R24/16 was never completed and the first not repaired after the ground running accident due to the Versaille Treaty restrictions. At the time of its completion the Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII was the largest complete airplane in the world, (the Mannesman-Poll triplane was to have been much bigger but was not completed before the Versaille Treaty restrictions were applied).

References

1. Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI. (2012, May 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:11, May 17, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zeppelin-Staaken_R.VI&oldid=492276869
2. Mark's Lists German Giants Retrieved 01:01, May 17, 2012, from http://www.markslists.net/history/germangiants/index.html
3. The Aerodrome Forum Zeppelin Staaken R.vi/ Type L Seeflugzeug Bomber Camouflage Retrieved 01:01, May 17, 2012, from http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/camouflage-markings/33768-zeppelin-staaken-r-vi-type-l-seeflugzeug-bomber-camouflage.html
4. E. Offermann, W. G. Noack, and A. R. Weyl, "Riesenflugzeuge, in: Handbuch der Flugzeugkunde" (Richard Carl Schmidt & Co., 1927).
5. Haddow, G.W. & Grosz, Peter M. "The German Giants, The Story of the R-planes 1914–1919". London. Putnam. (1962, 3rd ed. 1988).ISBN 0-85177-812-7
6. Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen. "German Aircraft of the First World War". London, Putnam. (2nd Ed.) 1970. ISBN 0-370-00103-6
7. Wagner, Ray and Nowarra, Heinz, "German Combat Planes", Doubleday, 1971.

Four Colorful German Warbirds

More Brightly Painted German Warbirds

Hello and I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I just needed to post some colorful planes to brighten up my day. What they have in common is they are German, gaudy, and have not been posted here yet.

Albatros D.XI sn D.2208 - 1918

This is the first prototype of the Albatros D.XI. One of the main distinguishing points are the four blade propeller and the tubing running into the cowling above the access door.

Fokker Dr.I August Raben Jasta 18 - Serial Number 479/17 - 1918

This Dr.I in one of two triplanes from Jasta 18 which are flown by August Raben. I may be wrong nd the cowling should be white, if so I plan on reworking the profile. There is another profile circulating which is blue and white claiming it was flown by Raben in Jasta 7. The reference to Raben flying a blue and white Dr.1 in Jasta 7 originated in published in Squadron Signal "Aircraft In Action"-Fokker Dr.I pg.17-26 with an erroneous caption. Further research seems to bear out that this reference is inaccurate and just plain wrong. I trust Dan-San Abbot's judgement on this matter, he is much more informed than I will ever be. So any site still posting this profile and the story of Raben flying with Jasta 7 are much in error I do see how this color scheme caught on. The reference is a black and white image and those are open to much interpretation, however clearer minds seem to have prevailed. I changed this post and removed the blue and white profile from circulation on this site. I apologize for the oversight on my part.

Fokker D.VII - 1918

The Fokker D.VII shown above was assigned to Jasta 74. The pilot of the aircraft was Wilhelm Hippert.

Siemens-Schuckert D.III - 1917

The Siemens-Schuckert D.III was flown by Josef Veltjens who served in Jasta 18. He flew many different aircraft during his career scoring 35 victories.