Gotha WD.7

WD.7 and WD.8
Role	Seaplane trainer
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Gotha
First flight	1916
Primary user	Imperial German Navy

The Gotha WD.7 (for Wasser Doppeldecker - "Water Biplane") was a reconnaissance seaplane developed in the German Empire during World War I. After the pusher-configured WD.3 was not accepted by the Imperial German Navy, Gotha turned to a new layout that would keep the aircraft's nose free for forward-firing weapons. The WD.7 therefore, was a conventional biplane with twin engines mounted tractor-fashion on the leading edge of the lower wing. Eight examples were built for use as trainers for torpedo bombing. During 1917, two of these aircraft were used for testing a 37 mm (1.46 in) autocannon built by DWM.

The same airframe was used to create the WD.8 as an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, substituting the twin wing-mounted engines for a single Maybach Mb.IVa in the nose.

Specifications (WD.7)

General characteristics

• Powerplant: 2 × Mercedes D.II, 90 kW (120 hp) each