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LVG B (Series)

1915 WORLD WAR 1

History of LVG B (Series)

Before the production of military aircraft, the LVG ("Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft") focused on the creation of airships, which were vulnerable to ground and aircraft fire but proved useful in reconnaissance missions and artillery positioning The LVG B-Series aircraft marked the company's first foray into military aviation and consisted of a light two-seat biplane that served in World War I. The system and its crew are classified as reconnaissance aircraft, and their mission is to scout out enemy territory, detailing enemy movements and positions in post-fight reports and debriefs. Unlike the two reconnaissance platforms later encountered during the war, the B-Series was unarmed and completely vulnerable to a variety of air and ground threats.

The original production model B.I had a typical bi-wing structure with unequal span upper and lower wing assemblies connected by various struts and cables. The wings have double cabins, and the fuselage has parallel struts and shorter struts. The engine is mounted at the very forward end of the fuselage, and the stern has a traditional three-plane tail.

Power is provided by a 100-horsepower Mercedes D. I-series liquid-cooled piston engine. This gives the aircraft a 4-hour endurance window at a top speed of 65 mph. The pilot and his observer sit in tandem behind the cockpit and under the upper wing assembly - the pilot in the back and the observer in the front. The landing gear consists of two main gear wheels, supported by struts under the main mass of the fuselage, with a slide rail in the tail.

As mentioned above, B.I is unarmed.

The Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe) received the B.I, and shortly thereafter LVG began to offer an improved form under the new name "B.II". This version introduced a more powerful 120 hp Mercedes inline engine.

Additionally, the upper wing assembly features a "cutout" designed to improve visibility from the pilot's position. The trainer derivative - "B. III" - is also used to train aspiring pilots in the nuances of flying. The B.III received a reinforced bottom for "rough flight".

Due to the inherent limitations of the entire aircraft line and advances in wartime aviation technology, the B-Series was eventually removed from active frontline reconnaissance missions and used primarily for training. Since then, it has been officially replaced by a more powerful type.