AEG J.I

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AEG J.I
AEG J.I - Ray Wagner Collection Image (21417553246).jpg
Role Armoured ground attack aircraft
National origin Germany
Manufacturer AEG[1]
Primary user Luftstreitkräfte[1]
Produced 1917–1918[1]
Number built 609[1]
Developed from AEG C.IV[1]

The AEG J.I was a German biplane ground attack aircraft of 1917, an armored and more powerful version of the AEG C.IV reconnaissance aircraft.[1]

Design and development[]

The AEG J.I was a two-seat single-engined tractor biplane with a conventional landing gear with a tail skid. The aircraft was constructed using fabric covered steel tubes. The open tandem cockpit for the pilot and gunner had armour protection . The gunner had three weapons, two 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine guns were fitted to the floor of the cockpit for ground targets. One 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun was on a rotable mounting.[1]

Aircraft fitted with ailerons on the lower wing as well as the upper wing were designated AEG J.Ia.[1]

An improved version of the J.I was developed as the AEG J.II, which had aerodynamically balanced ailerons with overhanging horn balances, extended rear fuselage with a larger fin to improve directional stability and a re-located aileron link strut.[1]

After the war, several J.IIs served the first sustained daily passenger aeroplane service in the world, between Berlin and Weimar, flown by Deutsche Luft-Reederei. This route began on 5 February 1919. Early commercial J.II's retained open cockpits, but modified versions with enclosed cabins for the two passengers quickly replaced them.[2]

Variants[]

AEG J.I rear
AEG J.II cabin version with the German airline Deutsche Luft-Reederei in 1919
AEG J.I
An armoured version of the AEG C.IV fitted with downward pointing machine guns in the floor of the rear cockpit for ground strafing and a defensive hand-aimed machine-gun in the observers cockpit.[1]
AEG J.Ia
The J.Ia version featured aileron controls on the lower wings, in addition to the upper.[1]
AEG J.II
Structurally similar to the J.I the J.II introduced ailerons aerodynamically balanced by large horn extensions at the wing-tips, increased fin area to improve directional stability and a re-located aileron link strut.[1]

Operators[]

 German Empire

Specifications (AEG J.I)[]

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

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.46 m (44 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 33.18 m2 (357.1 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,455 kg (3,208 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz IV 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine, 149 kW (200 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
  • Range: 375 km (233 mi, 202 nmi)
  • Endurance: 2.5hr
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 2.78 m/s (547 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000m in 6min

Armament

  • Guns: * up to 6 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) fixed, downwards-firing LMG 08/15 machine guns (standard fit of 2)
  • 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 in rear cockpit

See also[]

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-00103-6.
  2. ^ Michael J.H. Taylor, ed. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation (2nd ed.). New York: Portland House. ISBN 0-517-69186-8.
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