Lohner B.I
| Industry | Aerospace, Military aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1912 |
| Headquarters | Austria-Hungary |
| Products | Military reconnaissance aircraft (B.I to B.VII series) |
The Lohner B.I served as a reconnaissance aircraft for military purposes, developed and produced within Austria-Hungary during the period of World War I.[1] Throughout its development, Lohner experimented with progressively more powerful engines, resulting in a sequence of military designations ranging from the B.II up to the final iteration, the B.VII. The ultimate model was also adapted into an armed version, known as the C.I.[2]
Design and development
The initial concept for the B.I was conceived prior to the outbreak of war,[3] originally earning the nickname Pfeilflieger ("Arrow-flier") due to its distinctly swept-back wings,[4] which created an arrow-like outline when viewed from above. Aside from this distinctive characteristic, it featured a conventional biplane configuration with two bays and staggered wings of differing spans. The cockpit was open, accommodating the pilot and observer (or instructor) seated in tandem.
The initial production run was commissioned by the Luftschiffabteilung ("Airship Section") of the Austro-Hungarian army towards the end of 1912, following a national fundraising effort organized by the Österreichischer Aero-Club ("Austrian Aero-Club").[4] At that stage, it was designated as Type B. The army acquired 28 units before requesting Lohner to create a model better adapted for operations in mountainous terrain, which resulted in the B.II replacing the B.I in manufacturing from mid-1914 onward. Nonetheless, production of both the original B.I and the then-outdated B.II was briefly resumed in 1915 under license by Flugzeugwerk Fischamend for training purposes.
Operational history
On 17 December 1913, amid the conflict in Morocco, a Spanish expeditionary squadron from the Aeronáutica Militar became the first formal air force unit to engage in combat. This marked the inaugural instance of a coordinated bombing campaign in history, as they dropped aerial bombs from a Lohner Flecha aircraft over the Ben Karrix plain in Morocco.
Variants
- B.I
- The initial Pfeilflieger design.
- B.II
- A variant of the Lohner B.II adapted specifically for operations in mountainous terrain.
- B.II
- The production model equipped with a 63 kW (85 hp) Hiero engine, with 96 units manufactured.
- B.III
- Configured with either a 75 kW (100 hp) Mercedes engine, a 90 kW (120 hp) Austro-Daimler engine for Lohner versions, or a 75 kW (100 hp) Austro-Daimler engine for the Ufag variant, totaling 30 produced.
- B.IV
- Featured an updated undercarriage and powered by a 75 kW (100 hp) Mercedes engine, with 9 built—8 of which were by Ufag.
- B.V
- Equipped with a 100 kW (140 hp) Rapp engine, with 6 units constructed.
- B.VI
- Similar to the B.V model, comprising 18 aircraft built.
- B.VII
- The definitive Lohner B.VII version, fitted with either a 110 kW (150 hp) or 120 kW (160 hp) Austro Daimler engine, with a total of 73 produced.
- C.1
- An armed adaptation based on the B.VII, powered by a 120 kW (160 hp) Austro Daimler engine and equipped with a single machine gun mounted on a flexible mount for the observer, with 40 units built.
- Flecha
- The Lohner Flecha (meaning Arrow), also called Barrón Flecha, was a Spanish-developed variant of the Lohner B.1 designed by engineer Eduardo Barrón in 1915. It remained operational until 1919. Barrón later utilized the Flecha as a foundation to create the Barrón W model in 1917.
Operators
- Aeronáutica Militar (1913–1917)
Specifications
Notes
References
- Grosz, Peter M. (2002). Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. Colorado: Flying Machine Press.
- Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
- Murphy, Justin D. (2005). Military Aircraft: Origins to 1918. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
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