Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV

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Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV
Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV WW1 aircraft 1.jpg
First version with four Austro-Daimler engines.
Role Bomber
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Schütte-Lanz
Designer Graf von Zeppelin
First flight 1918
Primary user Luftstreitkräfte
Variants Zeppelin-Staaken R.V, Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI, Zeppelin-Staaken R.VII, Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV, Zeppelin-Staaken R.XVI, Zeppelin-Staaken Riesenflugzeuge

The Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV was a development of the Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI. This was one of a series of large bombers called Riesenflugzeuge, intended to be less vulnerable than the dirigibles in use at the time.

Contents

Development

The original version of the Staaken R.XIV had two engine nacelles, each housing a pair of 350hp Austro-Daimler V-12 engines in a push-pull configuration. [1] The nacelles were large enough for some inflight maintenance. The Austro-Daimler engines were installed without reduction gears and were the most powerful available at the time, but soon proved to be unreliable. On 12 April 1918, during its second flight of the acceptance program, a connecting rod broke in one of the rear engines.[ citation needed ] The Austro-Daimlers were replaced by four 300 hp Basse und Selve BuS.IVa engines and it was ready for further flight testing by 10 May 1918. The unproven Basse und Selves were also problematic and had a tendency to seize pistons, so they were in turn removed in favor of the less powerful but reliable 245 hp high-compression Maybach Mb.IVa.[ citation needed ] In an attempt to maintain the performance of the Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI, a fifth Maybach engine was installed in the nose.

Four of the improved model R.XIVa were ordered by Idflieg late in the war. The XIVa had some weight reduction improvements and geared engines to increase the rate of climb, service ceiling and bombload. These were built between 1918 and 1919. The R.XIVa machines were built by the Flugzeugwerft G.m.b.H. at Staaken west of Berlin.

Modified with five Maybach engines. Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV WW1 aircraft 4.jpg
Modified with five Maybach engines.

Operational history

Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV 43/17 of Rfa 501 was brought down at 23:50 on August 10, 1918 by Capt A B Yuille of No 151 Sqn RAF, flying a Sopwith Camel D6573. It crashed one mile west of Lighthouse Talmas, near Doullens, and all crew members (Ltn Braun, Ofstv Buth, Ltn Corty, Vfw Donath, Flg Donnemaier, Flg Fonrobert, Uffz Kopp, Gefr Reuther and Flg Schneidersmann) were killed.[ citation needed ]

"A five engined Gotha (Actually a Staaken R.XIV) came over about midnight and dropped a few bombs. The searchlights got him and this time Jerry had a surprise as our flying scouts were up, spotted Fritz at once and went for him. In a few minutes a fight as on and we soon saw the big Gotha (Staaken R.XIV) in flames. He came down and a number of soldiers ran to the burning wreck, when one of the bombs exploded in the heat. Several of those who were near were killed and more injured. This machine carried eight men, three had been shot, four burned and one staff officer had jumped with a parachute, but this failed to open so he too was killed" - Diary of Thomas Spencer[ citation needed ]

R.XIVa with flight mechanic visible at his position between engines. Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV WW1 aircraft 3.jpg
R.XIVa with flight mechanic visible at his position between engines.

Operators

Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire

Flag of the Ukrainian State.svg  Ukrainian People's Republic

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Flag of Romania.svg  Romania

Specifications (Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIVa)

View of the cockpit of a Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIVa Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIVa cockpit.jpg
View of the cockpit of a Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIVa

Data from [1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV". airwar.ru. Corner of the sky. 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 Yaroslav Tynchenko (2010). Герої Українського неба. Пілоти Визвольної Війни 1917-1920 (in Ukrainian).
  3. Valeriu Avram (1986). "Emblemele Avioanelor Româneşti Între Anii 1916-1921". Modelism 1986-01 (in Romanian). p. 26.

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