DFW C.V

{{Short description|1916 German reconnaissance aircraft family}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = C.IV, C.V, C.VI, and F 37 | logo = | logo_size = | image = German DFW C.V with crew in 1918.jpg | alt = | caption = A DFW C.V and its crew, probably of ''Bayrische Flieger Abteilung'' 287 (Bavarian Flying Section 287), 1918 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Reconnaissance | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = {{flag|German Empire}} | manufacturer = Aviatik | design_group = | designer = Deutsche Flugzeugwerke | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = Luftstreitkräfte | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 3250 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1916-1918 | introduction = 1916 | retired = | first_flight = 1916 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

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 {{convert|112|kW|hp|abbr=on|2}} Benz Bz.III. It was soon replaced in production by the definitive '''C.V''' with a two-bay wing cellule and either a {{convert|185|hp|kW|abbr=on|2}} C.III N.A.G. or {{convert|149|kW|hp|abbr=on|2}} 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 (initially as the '''Aviatik C.VI''', but later as the '''DFW C.V(Av)'''), 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 {{convert|220|kW|hp|abbr=on|2}} BMW IV engine, and in this configuration broke the world altitude record in 1919, reaching a height of {{convert|7,700|m|ft|abbr=on|2}}. 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== thumb|right|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 cockpitThe C.V was a biplane of mixed, mostly wooden construction. The fuselage was a wooden frame, covered with plywood, with a tail consisting of a metal frame, covered with canvas. The wings were of two-spar wooden construction, rectangular in shape and covered in canvas. The upper wing had a slighter greater span and was fitted with ailerons. The conventional landing gear was fixed, with a straight common axle and a rear skid. thumb|right|DFW CV.7888/17. Shot down by French anti-aircraft fire near La Chapelle

The straight-six engine was fitted with a long, vertical, chimney-like exhaust pipe (LVG-produced planes had horizontal exhaust pipe) and was covered with an aerodynamic cover, but these were often left off. The engine drove a two-blade wooden propeller {{convert|2.8|m|ft}} in diameter. Engine cooling was initially provided by radiators on each side of the fuselage, later aircraft used a radiator at the front of the upper wing.

==Operational history== thumb|right|The aircraft at the Polish Aviation Museum, Kraków (2013) 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.<ref name="Borislavov">Borislavov I., R.Kirilov: "The Bulgarian Aircraft, vol.I: From Bleriot to Messerschmitt". Litera Prima, Sofia, 1996 (Bulgarian)</ref> 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 the Polish-Soviet war.

Two were used post-war in Finland, four in the Netherlands, two in Switzerland, five (plus one made from spare parts) in Lithuania and a number in Estonia. Eight aircraft were converted for civilian use 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.<ref name="Bernad p22-3">Bernád 2001, p.22.23.</ref>

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

==Operators== ;{{flag|German Empire}} *''Luftstreitkräfte'' *''Kaiserliche Marine'' ;{{flag|Kingdom of Bulgaria}} *''Bulgarian Air Force'' <br> ''Post-War Operators:'' ;{{POL}} *Polish Air Force operated up to 34 aircraft. ;{{EST}} *Estonian Air Force operated four DFW C.V aircraft.<ref>Gerdessen 1982, p.76</ref> ;{{FIN}} *Finnish Air Force **2 x DFW C.V (T29) ;{{LAT}} *Latvian Air Force ;{{LTU}} *Lithuanian Air Force operated 7 DFW C.V aircraft (No. 7, 3379, 3918, 4828, 5044, 9076, 17243)<ref>G. Ramoška, Pirmieji karo aviacijos lėktuvai 1919-23 m., http://www.plienosparnai.lt/page.php?81 </ref> ;{{UKR}} *Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet

==Variants== ;DFW C.IV :The first of a line of reconnaissance aircraft from DFW, powered by a {{convert|112|kW|hp|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|112|kW|hp|abbr=on|2}} C.III N.A.G. (licence-built Conrad C.III) or {{convert|149|kW|hp|abbr=on}} Benz Bz.IV ;DFW C.V(Av) :Later designation for aircraft built by Automobil und Aviatik A.G in Germany ;DFW C.VI :A single prototype with aerodynamic aileron balances and strengthened structure, powered by a {{convert|164|kW|hp|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|220|kW|hp|abbr=on}} 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 :The initial designation for those C.Vs built by Aviatik until Idflieg rationalized its designation system and changed it to DFW C.V(Av) ;DAR Uzunov-1 or 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)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=''German Aircraft of the First World War''<ref name="Gray">{{cite book|last1=Gray|first1=Peter|last2=Thetford|first2=Owen|title=German Aircraft of the First World War|url=https://archive.org/details/germanaircraftfi00thet|url-access=limited|publisher=Putnam & Company Ltd.|location=London|year=1970|edition=2nd|pages=[https://archive.org/details/germanaircraftfi00thet/page/n58 79]–81|isbn=9780370001036 }}</ref> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=2 |capacity= |length m=7.875 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=13.27 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m=3.25 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=970 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=1,430 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Benz Bz.IV |eng1 type=6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=200 |eng1 shp= |eng1 note= or {{convert|185|hp|kW|abbr=on}} C.III N.A.G. |power original= |thrust original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note=  |perfhide=

|max speed kmh=155 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance=3½ |ceiling m=5,000 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |climb rate ms=1.27 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude={{convert|1,000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in 4 min, {{convert|5,000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in 49 min |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |more performance=  |guns=<br> *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=<br> *{{Cvt|100|kg}} }}

==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite journal |last1=Anderson|first1=Lennart|title=La renaissance de l'aviation militair bulgare dans les années vingt|journal=Avions |date=November–December 2019 |issue=232|pages=52–66 |trans-title=The Rebirth of Bulgarian Military Aviation in the Twenties|language=French |issn=1243-8650}} * {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 892 Sheet 25 |isbn=1-156-94382-5 }} *{{cite journal |last=Bernád |first=Dénes |title= Balkan Birds: Thirty-Five Years of Bulgarian Aircraft Production, Part One|journal= Air Enthusiast |issue=94|date=July–August 2001|pages=18–30|issn=0143-5450 }} * {{cite book |title=Samoloty wojskowe obcych konstrukcji 1918-1939. Tomik 2 |last1=Chołoniewski |first1= Krzysztof|last2=Bączkowski|first2=Wiesław|series=Barwa w lotnictwie polskim no.7 |year= 1987|publisher= WKiŁ|location= Warsaw|isbn= 83-206-0728-0}} *{{cite journal |last=Gerdessen |first=F. |title= Estonian Air Power 1918 - 1945|journal= Air Enthusiast |issue=18|date= April–July 1982|pages=61–76 |issn= 0143-5450 }} * {{cite book |last1= Gray |first1= Peter |last2=Thetford |first2=Owen |title=German Aircraft of the First World War |year=1970 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn= 0-933852-71-1 }} *{{cite book |last1=Herris |first1=Jack |title=DFW Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-935881-54-4 |publisher=Aeronaut Books |location=n.p. |series=Great War Aviation Centennial Series|volume=29}} *{{cite journal |last1=Klaauw|first1=Bart van der|title=Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'Arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 1999 |issue=80 |pages=54–59 |issn=0143-5450}} *{{cite book |title= Samoloty w muzeach polskich|last=Krzyżan |first=Marian |year=1983 |publisher=WKiŁ |location=Warsaw |isbn=83-206-0432-X |language=pl}} *{{cite book |last1=Nelcarz|first1=Bartolomiej|last2=Peczkowski|first2=Robert|name-list-style=amp |title=White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918–1939|location=Ottringham, UK |publisher=Hikoki Publications |year=2001|isbn=1-902109-73-2}} *{{cite journal |last1=Neulen|first1=Hans-Werner|last2=Cony|first2=Christophe|name-list-style=amp |title=Les aigles du Kaiser en Terre Sainte |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=September 2000 |issue=90 |pages=38–46 |trans-title=The Kaiser's Eagles in the Holy Land |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=325 |isbn= 0-7106-0710-5 }} * {{cite book |last1= Wagner |first1= Ray |last2=Nowarra |first2=Heinz |title=German Combat Planes |year=1971 |publisher=Doubleday |location=New York }} * {{cite book |last= Wagner |first= Wolfgang |title=Der deutsche Luftverkehr - Die Pionierjahre 1919-1925 |year=1987 |publisher=Bernard & Graefe |location=Koblenz }}

==External links== {{Commons category|DFW C.V}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110719013542/http://www.fliegergemeinschaft.de/gallery/slides/DFW%20C%20V.html Photo of a DFW C.V]

{{DFW aircraft}} {{Idflieg C-class designations}} {{DAR aircraft}} {{World War I Aircraft of the Central Powers}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1910s German military reconnaissance aircraft C.V Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:Aircraft first flown in 1916

DFW C.V

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