AEG Dr.I

AEG

Industry	Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1883
Headquarters	Germany

The AEG Dr.I was a triplane fighter prototype developed by the Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG) in 1917 during the First World War. It was intended for use by the Imperial German Army's (Deutsches Heer) air arm, the Luftstreitkräfte. This model was based on the earlier AEG D.I biplane design. Only one example was constructed, and it ultimately did not proceed to mass production.

Development

Following the capture of an intact British Sopwith Triplane in early 1917, German fighter pilots expressed considerable admiration for its design. In response, the Inspectorate of Flying Troops (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen or Idflieg) issued orders in July for various German manufacturers to produce triplane fighters. AEG adapted its existing D.I biplane by incorporating a third wing and completed a single prototype by October of that year. Apart from the triple-wing configuration, this aircraft retained the D.I’s fuselage, engine, and twin forward-firing machine guns.

Specifications (AEG Dr.I)

{{Aircraft specs |ref=German Aircraft of the First World War; A.E.G. Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes |prime units?=met

|genhide=

|crew=1 |capacity= |length m=6.15 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |upper span m=9.4 |mid span m=9.1 |lower span m=8.8 |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=24 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=710 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=970 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Mercedes D.IIIa |eng1 type=water-cooled straight-six piston engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=160 |eng1 note= |power original=

|prop blade number=2 |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= |perfhide=

|max speed kmh=200 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |min time to altitude=2.5 minutes to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |max climb rate ms= |max climb rate ftmin=

|max wing loading kg/m2= |max wing loading lb/sqft=

|max power/mass ratio=

|max thrust/weight ratio=

|guns=2 × forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 08#LMG 08/15 machine guns

|}

Bibliography

• Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen (1987) [1970]. German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
• Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon (2001) [1994]. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown (Revised and Updated ed.). London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-84065-269-1.
• Herris, Jack (2015). A.E.G. Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 16. n. p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-28-5.

External links

• AEG Dr. I – Virtual Aviation Museum