Engineering:Albatros C.X

Albatros C.X
Scale model of an Albatros C.X
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Primary user	Germany
Number built	>300

The Albatros C.X was a German military reconnaissance aircraft that saw service during World War I.

Design and development

The C.X was essentially an enlarged development of the Albatros C.VII designed to take advantage of the new Mercedes D.IVa engine that became available in 1917. Unlike the C.VII that preceded it in service, the C.X utilised the top wing spar-mounted radiator that had first been tried on the C.V/17. Other important modernisation features included provision for oxygen for the crew and radio equipment.

Operators

German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

Specifications (C.X)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and observer
• Length: 9.15 m (30 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 14.36 m (47 ft 1 in)
• Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 42.7 m² (459 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,050 kg (2,320 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,668 kg (3,677 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.IVa , 190 kW (260 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 175 km/h (110 mph, 96 kn)
• Endurance: 3 hours 25 minutes
• Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 3.3 m/s (660 ft/min)

Armament

• 1 × forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) Spandau LMG 08/15 machine gun
• 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun for observer

References

• Grosz, P. M. (2005). Albatros C.X. Windsock Datafile. 114. Berkhampstead, UK: Albatros Productions. ISBN ((978-1-902207-76-9)). 
• Klaauw, Bart van der (March–April 1999). "Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War". Air Enthusiast (80): 54–59. ISSN 0143-5450. 
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 53.