Gotha WD.7

The Gotha WD.7 (for Wasser Doppeldecker - "Water Biplane") was a reconnaissance seaplane developed in Germany during World War I. After the pusher-configured WD.3 was not accepted by the Imperial German Navy, Gotha turned to a new layout that would keep the aircraft's nose free for forward-firing weapons. The WD.7 therefore, was a conventional biplane with twin engines mounted tractor-fashion on the leading edge of the lower wing. Eight examples were built for the German Navy for use as trainers for torpedo bombing. During 1917, two of these aircraft were used for testing a 37 mm (1.46 in) autocannon built by DWM.

The same airframe was used to create the WD.8 as an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, substituting the twin wing-mounted engines for a single Maybach Mb.IVa in the nose.

Specifications (WD.7)

General characteristics

• Powerplant: 2 × Mercedes D.II, 90 kW (120 hp) each

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gotha aircraft.

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 428. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 895 Sheet 09.