Albatros W.4

W.4
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First prototype of Albatros W.IV, No.747
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Albatros Flugzeugwerke
First flight	1916
Number built	118

The Albatros W.4 was a German floatplane derivative of the Albatros D.I fighter with new wing and tail surfaces of greater span than the D.I. One hundred eighteen examples (including three prototypes) were built between June 1916 and December 1917. The aircraft operated in the North Sea and Baltic theatres and later served as training aircraft.

The W.4 was powered by the same 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III engine fitted to the D.I and based on the same fuselage. The first production series W.4s were armed with one lMG08 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun. Later aircraft carried two guns.

Operators

• German Empire
  • Luftstreitkräfte - 118 aircraft
• Austria-Hungary
  • KuKLFT - 8 aircraft delivered in July 1918

Specifications (W.4)

File:Albatros W.4 dwg.jpg

Albatros W.4 drawing

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Length: 8.50 m (27 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 31.6 m² (340 ft²)
• Empty weight: 790 kg (1,740 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,070 kg (2,360 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III, 120 kW (160 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 160 km/h (100 mph)
• Range: 450 km (280 miles)
• Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
• Rate of climb: 3.3 m/s (650 ft/min)

Armament

• 2 × forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) lMG 08 machine guns

References

• Green, W. & Swanborough, G. (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-85833-777-1
• luftfahrt-archiv.de
• Grosz, Peter M. (1995). Albatros W4. Windsock Mini Datafile No. 1. Berkhamsted: Albatros Productions. ISBN 0-948414-64-2.