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The AGO C.IV was a German reconnaissance aircraft of World War I. A departure from the manufacturer's pod-and-boom designs, it featured a traditional biplane layout with gradually tapering wings. Large orders were placed with AGO and two other manufacturers building under licence, but less than 100 were actually delivered.[1] Although fast and well-armed, the C.IV proved unstable in the air and was disliked by aircrews.[1]The early production version had a comma shaped rudder with unstrutted ailerons whilst later aircraft had a modified, curved rudder with strut braced double ailerons and additional strut bracing.

Operators[]

Estonia
  • Estonian Air Force[2]
German Empire
  • Luftstreitkräfte

Specifications[]

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

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.9 m (39 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 37.5 m2 (404 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 900 kg (1,984 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz.IV 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine, 160 kW (220 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 190 km/h (118 mph; 103 kn)
  • Endurance: 4 hours
  • Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,045 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 22 minutes

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 1 x fixed forward firing MG 08 "Spandau" machine gun fired by the pilot
    • 1 x Parabellum MG 14 machine gun aimed by the Observer.

References[]

  1. ^ :a b c d e Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War(2nd ed.). London: Putnam & Company Ltd. pp. 13–16. ISBN 0 370 00103 6.
  2. ^ Gerdessen 1982, p.76

Bibliography[]

    • Gerdessen, F. "Estonian Air Power 1918 - 1945". Air Enthusiast No 18, April - July 1982. Pages 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
    • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 40.
    • Airwar.ru
    • Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam & Company Ltd. pp. 13–16. ISBN 0 370 00103 6.
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