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Albatros C.X

1917 WORLD WAR 1

The Albatross C. X Story

Albatross production of the C.X model continues the company's commitment to producing high-performance biplane reconnaissance aircraft. The C.X model replaced the earlier C-Series models, an attempt to improve upon an already successful family of aircraft by adding aerodynamic design and upgrading engines.

The result will be a C.X with good performance and longer range, which will eventually form the basis for the best variant of the C series, the C.XII.

The C. X is equipped with the powerful and redesigned Mercedes D. IVa engine, which improves performance and reliability compared to the previous model. The Mercedes design of the C.V variant line was less reliable, which attributed the loss of the aircraft to accidents rather than enemy fire.

The resulting power increase gave this new C.X an extended range, and the system was used on the front lines from the summer of 1917.

Like its predecessors, the biplane C.X had two crew members sitting back to back in the cockpit area. The pilot is positioned forward, providing traditional visibility under and behind the upper wing system and behind the engine. An observer/rear gunner operates a circular array of 7.5mm Parabellum machine guns and receives a wide range of fire from the position.

Can also carry more light bombs.

Despite the C.X's success in reconnaissance, the system was replaced by the ultimate C-Series aircraft in the form of the C.XII. The addition of this new variant would ensure that the entire C-series would appear in the final years of the war through 1918.

Specification

Basic

Year:

1917

Status:

Cancel

Staff:

Production

[0 units]:

Albatros Flugzeugwerke - Germany

Roles

- Reconnaissance (RECCE)

Dimensions

Length:

30.02 ft (9.15 m)

Width:

47.11 ft (14.36 m)

Height:

11.15 ft (3.4 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

1,668 kg

Performance

1 x Mercedes D.IVa 6-cylinder liquid-cooled in-line engine driving a twin-bladed propeller unit in the nose.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

109 mph (175 km/h; 94 knots)

Service Limit:

16,404 ft (5,000 m; 3.11 mi)

Armor

Default:

2 x 7.5mm Parabellum machine guns in ring mounted rear cockpit position.

Changes

C.I - The first of the C series; based on the unarmed reconnaissance biplane B.II; 1 x 7.5mm machine gun in the rear gunner position; Mercedes D. III engine, 160 hp.

C.III - Derived from scout biplane B.III; 1 or 2 x 7.5mm machine guns in rear gunner position; Mercedes D. III engine, 160 hp.

C.V - Evolved from C.III; 2 x 7.5mm machine guns in rear gunner position; Mercedes D. IV 8-cylinder engine, 220 hp; refined hull design.

C. VII - A mid-1916 alternative model for the underperforming C. V model.

C. X - Improved C. V design; Mercedes D. IVa engine with 260 hp; refined hull design.

C. XII - Considered the best of the C series; in service until the end of the war; refined hull design.