Rumpler C.I

Last updated
C.I
Rumpler C.I bojowy 2 msc.jpg
General information
TypeReconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer Rumpler Flugzeugwerke
Primary users Luftstreitkräfte
Poland
History
Manufactured1915 - 1917
Introduction date1915
Variants Rumpler 6B-1

Entering service in 1915, the Rumpler C.I, (company designation 5A 2), [1] two-seater single-engine reconnaissance biplane, was one of the first German C-type aircraft, and also one of the longest serving in its class during World War I, being retired from the last front line units only in early 1918.

Contents

Design and development

The C.I was a successful design, and it was used on Western and Eastern Fronts, Macedonia, Salonika and Palestine. Early production examples were armed only with a single Parabellum machine gun on a Schneider ring mounting, but later aircraft had additionally a synchronised Spandau gun on the port side of fuselage. When used as a light bomber the C.I could also carry 100 kg of bombs.

In addition to the parent company, the Bayerische Rumpler-Werke, the Rumpler C.I was also produced by the Germania Flugzeug-Werke, the Märkische Flugzeug-Werke, the Hannoversche Waggonfabrik and the Albert Rinne Flugzeug-Werke. Variants included the C.Ia, which used a 180 hp Argus As.III engine instead of Mercedes D.III, the C.II, of which there's no evidence that any were actually built, 6B 1 single-seat floatplane fighter, and a Rumpler-built batch of C.Is intended for training which omitted the gun ring in the rear cockpit and was powered by a 150 hp Benz Bz.III.

It was this training role in which the C.I was latterly used, its friendly handling qualities making it suitable to be flown even by inexperienced pilots.

Operators

Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Specifications (C.I)

Data from German Aircraft of the First World War [1]

General characteristics

Alternative engines:

  • 134 kW (180 hp) Argus As.III in C.Ia aircraft from Hannoversche Waggonfabrik
  • 112 kW (150 hp) Benz Bz.III in Bayru-built C.Is, modified as trainers with dual control. (Bayru. - Bayerische Rumpler Werke)

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

  1. 1 2 Gray, Peter; Thetford, Owen (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 195–198. ISBN   0-370-00103-6.
  2. Ramoška, G. "Lietuvos Aviacijos Istorija 1919 - 1940 m. : Pirmieji karo aviacijos lėktuvai 1919-23 m." plienosparnai.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 12 December 2019.

Further reading