Hansa-Brandenburg B.I
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The Hansa-Brandenburg B.I was an unarmed military trainer and reconnaissance biplane of World War I, flown by the Austro-Hungarian Air Service. Early models were known internally to the Hansa-Brandenburg firm as the type D, while later models with a more powerful engine were designated FD. This aircraft was one of the earliest designs of Ernst Heinkel, who was working for Hansa-Brandenburg at the time. It was an entirely conventional two-bay biplane with staggered wings of unequal span. The pilot and observer sat in tandem in a long open cockpit.
The aircraft was produced under license by Aero, both during the war and afterwards (when it became known as the Aero Ae 01), and also by Letov, as the Š10.<ref name=pol>Krzysztof Chołoniewski, Wiesław Bączkowski (in Polish), Samoloty wojskowe obcych konstrukcji 1918-1939 [Military aircraft of foreign designs 1918-1939]. Warsaw, WKiŁ, 1987. Template:ISBN, p. 7</ref> Experience gained with this design would provide Aero with the basis for a number of derivative civil and military designs throughout the 1920s.
The design formed the basis for the C.I and C.II armed reconnaissance types.
Development and design
In April–May 1914, the aircraft designer Ernst Heinkel joined the newly established Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke after leaving Albatros Flugzeugwerke, and shortly afterwards, Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke merged with Hansa-Flugzeugwerke to become Hansa-Brandenburg.Template:Sfn Heinkel's first design for Hansa-Brandenburg was the Type D, a single-engined reconnaissance aircraft. It was a two-bay biplane with wood and fabric wings and tail surfaces, and a fuselage of steel tube structure covered with plywood. It was powered by a Template:Convert Benz Bz.II engine.Template:Sfn Twelve Type Ds were built by Brandenburg for the German Army air arm in 1914.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
The Type FD was an improved derivative of the D, with revised tail surfaces and two- or three-bay wings with inward sloping wing struts.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn It was powered by a Benz B.II engine,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn or a Template:Convert Mercedes engine.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Eight or nine were built in 1914, and given the German designation Brandenburg B.I.Template:Sfn
The Type LDD was a further improved aircraft, differing from the FD by having a wooden engine mount rather than the steel mounts by the earlier versions, which saved weight.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The type was built by Brandenburg for the Austro-Hungarian Army Air Arm (designated as the Brandenburg B.I by the Austrians),Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn and under license by the Austro-Hungarian Army's aircraft works (Flugzeugwerke) at Fischamend, in a series of gradually improved versions, with various powerplants, serving initially as an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft and later as a trainer.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Brandenburg built 102 LDDs,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn while over 400 were built at Fischamend, with production continuing until shortly after the end of the First World War.Template:Sfn
Variants
- D
- Initial version with Benz Bz.II engine. Twelve built.Template:Sfn
- FD
- Revised version with modified tail and Benz Bz.II or Mercedes engine. Designated Brandenburg B.I by Germany. Eight or nine built.Template:Sfn
- LDD
- Improved version with lighter structure. Large scale production for Austria-Hungary. Designated Brandenburg B.I by Austria-Hungary.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I Series 05.1
- Production version of LDD built by Brandenburg and powered by Template:Convert Mercedes engine. 102 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 06.5
- Conversion of Series 05.1 aircraft to trainers by Flugzeugwerke Fischamend. 49 converted.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 75
- Fischamend-built single-control trainer, powered by 100 hp Mercedes engine. 28 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 76
- Fischamend-built, 100 hp Mercedes, single or dual controls. 99 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 176
- Fischamend-built, 100 hp Mercedes, single controls. 99 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 276
- Fischamend-built, 100 hp Mercedes. 24 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 77
- Fischamend-built, 100 hp Daimler, single controls. 41 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 78
- Fischamend-built, Template:Convert Daimler, dual controls. 51 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 278
- Fischamend-built, Daimler engine. 3 built late 1918.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 79
- Fischamend-built, Template:Convert Hiero 6 engine. 21 built.Template:Sfn
- Brandenburg B.I(Fd) Series 279
- Fischamend-built, Hiero engine. 49 built.Template:Sfn
Operators
- Polish Air Force (postwar, 15 aircraft<ref name=pol/>)
- Czechoslovak Air Force (postwar)
- Yugoslav Royal Air Force (postwar)
- Letalski center Maribor (postwar)
Surviving aircraft
Only a single Hansa-Brandenburg B.I has survived World War One, it is located in the Budapest Aviation Museum in Hungary.
Specifications (FD)
See also
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References
External links
Template:Hansa-Brandenburg aircraft Template:Letov aircraft Template:KuKLFT B-class designations