DFW C.V

C.IV, C.V, C.VI, and F 37

DFW C.V (s/n 5845/16) banking in early morning sunlight. Note the Aviatik trademark on strut, and flares in holder behind observer's cockpit.
Role	Reconnaissance
National origin	German Empire
Manufacturer	Aviatik
Designer	Deutsche Flugzeugwerke
First flight	1916
Introduction	1916
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Produced	1916-1918
Number built	3250

The DFW C.IV, DFW C.V, DFW C.VI, and DFW F37 were a family of German reconnaissance aircraft first used in 1916 in World War I. They were conventionally configured biplanes with unequal-span unstaggered wings and seating for the pilot and observer in tandem, open cockpits. Like the DFW C.II before them, these aircraft seated the gunner to the rear and armed him with a machine gun on a ring mount. Compared to preceding B- and C-class designs by DFW, however, the aerodynamics of the fuselage were more refined, and when coupled with more powerful engines, resulted in a machine with excellent performance.

Design and development

The C.IV had a single-bay wing cellule and was powered by a 112 kW (150.19 hp) Benz Bz.III. It was soon replaced in production by the definitive C.V with a two-bay wing cellule and either a 185 hp (137.95 kW) C.III N.A.G. or 149 kW (199.81 hp) Benz Bz.IV. Predictably, the more powerful Benz engine gave significantly better performance.

The C.V's main designer was Heinrich Oelerich, and it was produced in larger numbers than any other German aircraft during World War I. About 2000 were manufactured by DFW and about 1,250 licence manufactured by Aviatik (as the DFW C.V(Av) or Aviatik C.VI), Halberstadt, LVG, and Schütte-Lanz.

A further development was the C.VI, a sturdier aircraft with balances added to the ailerons. Only a single example of this was built, but it was followed by three aircraft designated F37 in the closing stages of the war, which may have received the Idflieg designation DFW C.VII, though this is not certain. Following the war, the DFW F37 was fitted with the 220 kW (295.02 hp) BMW IV engine, and in this configuration broke the world altitude record in 1919, reaching a height of 7,700 m (25,262.47 ft). However, since this flight was in breach of the Armistice, it was not recognised by the FAI. After this exploit, this F37 had its original Benz engine restored, and was converted into a passenger "limousine" by the addition of a richly upholstered interior and a canopy to enclose it. Now designated the DFW P1 Limousine, it could carry three passengers and was demonstrated by DFW at the ELTA exhibition in Amsterdam in 1919, flying passengers.

Description

It was a biplane of mixed, mostly wooden construction. A fuselage of a wooden frame, covered with plywood. Two-spar rectangular wooden wings, canvas covered. Upper wing of slightly greater span, with extended ends with ailerons. Tail of metal frame, covered with canvas. Straight engine in a fuselage nose, with a chimney-like exhaust pipe (LVG-produced planes had horizontal exhaust pipe). Engine was initially covered with an aerodynamic cover, but it was often abandoned. Two-blade wooden propeller, 2.8 m diameter. Water radiators on both fuselage sides, later water radiator before upper wing. Fixed conventional landing gear, with a straight common axle and a rear skid.

Operational history

The C.V and its related designs were used as a multi role combat aircraft, for reconnaissance, observation, and bombing by Germany and Bulgaria during World War I. Six aircraft were delivered to Bulgaria in 1917.^[1] In the hands of a skilled pilot it could outmaneuver most allied fighters of the period. It remained in service until early 1918 though 600 were still in use by the Armistice of 11 November 1918. Most were thereafter scrapped according to the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Poland seized 11 aircraft in 1919 and manufactured further 13 in 1920 from seized parts. Several other C.Vs were bought in 1920. They were used by the Polish Air Force in Polish-Soviet war.

Two were used post-war in Finland, four in the Netherlands, two in Switzerland and a number in Estonia. Eight aircraft were converted to civilian ones and used by Deutsche Luft Rederei. Seven copies were built by the Darzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnitsa (Bulgarian state aircraft workshops) in 1925 as the DAR Uzunov-1 (DAR U-1) and used as a trainer for Bulgaria's secret air force.^[2]

Only one fuselage of a C.V(Av) survives in the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.

Operators

German Empire

Kingdom of Bulgaria

Bulgarian Air Force

Post-War Operators:

Poland

Polish Air Force operated up to 34 aircraft.

Estonia

Estonian Air Force operated four DFW C.V aircraft.^[3]

Finland

Finnish Air Force
- 2 x DFW C.V (T29)

Latvia

Latvian Air Force

Ukraine

Ukrainian Air Force

Variants

DFW C.IV: The first of a line of reconnaissance aircraft from DFW, powered by a 112 kW (150.19 hp) Benz Bz.III.
DFW C.V: The major production version with thousands built by DFW and many more by sub-contractors. Power could be supplied by a 112 kW (150.19 hp) C.III N.A.G. (licence-built Conrad C.III) or 149 kW (199.81 hp) Benz Bz.IV
DFW C.V(Av): Service designation for aircraft built at Automobil und Aviatik A.G in Austria
DFW C.VI: A single prototype with aerodynamic aileron balances and strengthened structure, powered by a 164 kW (219.93 hp) Benz Bz.IVa.
DFW F37: The company designation for further development of the C.VI, not ordered by Idflieg due to the Armistice, fitted with a 220 kW (295.02 hp) BMW IV engine.
DFW P1 Limousine: A single conversion of an F37 with an expensively upholstered limousine style cabin behind the cockpit.
Aviatik C.VI: An alternative designation for production at Aviatik in Austria
DAR Uzunov-1: a.k.a. DAR U-1, C.V aircraft built in Bulgaria by DAR, (Darzhavna Aeroplane Robotilnitsafor - Bulgarian state aircraft workshops), for the Bulgarian Air Service

Specifications (DFW C.V)

Data from German Aircraft of the First World War^[4]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 7.875 m (25 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 13.27 m (43 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Empty weight: 970 kg (2,138 lb)
Gross weight: 1,430 kg (3,153 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz.IV 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine, 150 kW (200 hp) or 185 hp (137.95 kW) C.III N.A.G.

Performance

Maximum speed: 155 km/h (96 mph; 84 kn)
Endurance: 3½
Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 1.27 m/s (250 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,280.84 ft) in 4 min, 5,000 m (16,404.20 ft) in 49 min

Armament

Guns:
1 × 7.92 mm MG08/15 (Spandau) fixed machine gun with a synchronizing gear
1 × 7.92 mm Parabellum MG14 machine gun on a ring mounting
Bombs: 100 kg of bombs

References

Citations

↑ Borislavov I., R.Kirilov: "The Bulgarian Aircraft, vol.I: From Bleriot to Messerschmitt". Litera Prima, Sofia, 1996 (Bulgarian)
↑ Bernád 2001, p.22.23.
↑ Gerdessen 1982, p.76
↑ Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam & Company Ltd. pp. 79–81.

Bibliography

World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 892 Sheet 25. ISBN 1-156-94382-5.
Bernád, Dénes. "Balkan Birds: Thirty Five Years of Bulgarian Aircraft Production". Air Enthusiast. Stamford, Lincs, UK: Key Publishing (94, July/August 2001): 18–30. ISSN 0143-5450.
Chołoniewski, Krzysztof; Wiesław Bączkowski (1987). Samoloty wojskowe obcych konstrukcji 1918-1939. Tomik 2. Barwa w lotnictwie polskim no.7. Warsaw: WKiŁ. ISBN 83-206-0728-0.
Gerdessen, F. "Estonian Air Power 1918 - 1945". Air Enthusiast (18, April - July 1982.): 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-933852-71-1.
Krzyżan, Marian (1983). Samoloty w muzeach polskich (in Polish). Warsaw: WKiŁ. ISBN 83-206-0432-X.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 325. ISBN 0-7106-0710-5.
Wagner, Ray; Heinz Nowarra (1971). German Combat Planes. New York: Doubleday.
Wagner, Wolfgang (1987). Der deutsche Luftverkehr - Die Pionierjahre 1919-1925. Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe.

External links

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Photo of a DFW C.V

Aircraft produced by Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke
B.I B.II C.I C.II C.III C.IV C.V C.VI D.I D.II Dr.I Floh Mars P.1 Pfeil R.I R.II R.III

Idflieg C-, CL-, CS-, and CLS-class aircraft designations
C- and CL-	AEG C.I C.II C.III C.IV C.V C.VI C.VII C.VIII AGO C.I C.II C.III C.IV C.VII C.VII Albatros C.I C.II C.III C.IV C.V C.VI C.VII C.VIII C.IX C.X C.XI C.XII C.XIII C.XIV C.XV Aviatik C.I C.II C.III C.V C.VI C.VIII C.IX BFW CL.I CL.II CL.III CL.IV DFW C.I C.II C.III C.IV C.V C.VI Fokker C.I Friedrichshafen C.I Germania C.I C.II C.IV Halberstadt C.I CL.II C.III CL.IV C.V C.VII C.VIII C.IX CLS.X Hannover C.I CL.II CL.III CL.IV CL.V Junkers CL.I LFG/Roland C.I C.II C.III C.V C.VIII LVG C.I C.II C.III C.IV C.V C.VI C.VIII OAW C.I C.II Otto C.I C.II Pfalz C.I Rumpler C.I C.III C.IV C.V C.VI C.VII C.VIII C.IX C.X Sablatnig C.I C.II C.III Schütte-Lanz C.I Zeppelin-Friedrichshafen C.I C.II Zeppelin-Lindau C.I C.II
CLS-	Albatros CLS.I Halberstadt CLS.I CLS.II (see also main sequence above) Junkers CLS.I
CS-	Zeppelin-Lindau CS.I

DAR aircraft of Darzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnitsa, Darzhavna Samoletna Fabrika or Aeroplanes DAR
DAR 1 DAR 2 DAR 3 DAR 4 DAR 5 DAR 6 DAR 7 DAR 8 DAR 9 DAR 10 DAR 11 DAR Uzunov DAR Albatros DAR Chuchuliga DAR Rilski Orel DAR Zdravka Toprakchiev DAR Zdravka Vekilski DAR 21 Vector II DAR-23 DAR 25 Impuls DAR Speedster DAR Solo

World War I aircraft of the Central Powers
Fighters	AEG D.I AEG Dr.I Albatros D.I Albatros D.II Albatros D.III Albatros D.V Aviatik D.I Aviatik C.VI Daimler L.6 Euler D.I Euler D.II Fokker D.I Fokker D.II Fokker D.III Fokker D.IV Fokker D.V Fokker D.VI Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VIII Fokker Dr.I Fokker E.I Fokker E.II Fokker E.III Fokker E.IV Fokker E.V Halberstadt D.II Hannover CL.II Hannover CL.III Hannover CL.IV Hannover CL.V Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 Junkers D.I Kondor D.6 Kondor E.III Naglo D.II Pfalz D.III Pfalz D.XII Pfalz Dr.I Pfalz E.I Pfalz E.II Phönix D.I LFG Roland D.II LFG Roland D.VI Siemens-Schuckert D.I Siemens-Schuckert D.II Siemens-Schuckert D.III Siemens-Schuckert D.IV Siemens-Schuckert L.I Zeppelin-Lindau D.I
Bombers and ground attack	AEG DJ.I AEG G.I AEG G.II AEG G.III AEG G.IV AEG G.V AEG J.I AEG J.II AEG R.I Friedrichshafen G.II Friedrichshafen G.III Gotha G.I Gotha G.II Gotha G.III Gotha G.IV Gotha G.V Gotha GL.VII Gotha G.IX Hannover CL.II Junkers CL.I Junkers J.I Rumpler G.I Rumpler G.II Rumpler G.III Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.II Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.III Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.IV Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
Reconnaissance	AEG B.I AEG B.II AEG B.III AEG C.I AEG C.II AEG C.III AEG C.IV AEG C.V AEG C.VI AEG C.VII AEG C.VIII AGO C.I AGO C.II AGO C.III AGO C.IV AGO C.VII AGO C.VIII Albatros B.I Albatros B.II Albatros C.I Albatros C.III Albatros C.V Albatros C.VII Albatros C.IX Albatros C.X Albatros C.XII Aviatik B.I Aviatik B.II Aviatik C.I Aviatik C.VI DFW C.V LFG Roland C.II LVG B.I LVG C.II Rumpler C.I Rumpler C.IV Rumpler Taube
Trainers	Euler D.I
Prototypes	Albatros C.II Fokker V.1 Fokker V.2 Junkers J 1 Junkers J 2 Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.I

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