Gotha G.V
| Gotha G.V | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG |
| Designer | Hans Burkhard |
| First flight | 1917 |
| Introduction | August 1917 |
| Primary user | Luftstreitkräfte |
| Produced | 1917 to 1918 |
| Number built | 36 |
The Gotha G.V was a heavy bomber used by the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I.
Development
Operational use of the G.IV demonstrated that the incorporation of the fuel tanks into the engine nacelles was a mistake. In a crash landing the tanks could rupture and spill fuel onto the hot engines. This posed a serious problem because landing accidents caused 75% of operational losses. Gothaer produced the G.V, which housed its fuel tanks in the center of the fuselage. The smaller engine nacelles were mounted on struts above the lower wing.
The Gotha's pilot seat was offset to starboard with the bomb bay immediately behind. This allowed for a connecting walkway on the port side allowing crew members to move between the three gun stations. The Gotha included an important innovation in the form of a "gun tunnel" whereby the underside of the rear fuselage was arched, allowing placement of a rearward facing machine gun protecting from attack from below, removing the blind spot.[1]
Operational history
The G.V entered service in August 1917. It offered no performance improvement over the G.IV. The G.V was up to 450 kg (990 lb) heavier than the G.IV due to additional equipment and the use of insufficiently seasoned timber. Inferior quality fuel prevented the Mercedes D.IVa engines from producing the rated 190 kW (260 hp). For these reasons, the G.V generally operated at much lower altitudes than the G.IV.
In February 1918, Gothaer tested a compound tail unit with biplane horizontal stabilizers and twin rudders. The new tail unit, known as the Kastensteuerung, improved the aircraft's marginal directional control on one engine. The resulting G.Va subvariant incorporated the new tail as well as a slightly shorter forward fuselage with an auxiliary nose landing gear. All 25 G.Va aircraft were delivered to Bogohl 3, the new designation for the former Kagohl 3.
The G.Va was followed by the G.Vb, which carried an increased payload and operated at a maximum takeoff weight of 4,550 kg (10,030 lb). To reduce the danger of flipping over during landing, Gothaer introduced the Stossfahrgestell ("shock landing gear"), a tandem two-bogie main landing gear. The Stossfahrgestell proved so good that it was fitted to all G.V's in Bogohl 3. Some G.Vb aircraft also had Flettner servo tabs on the ailerons to reduce control forces.
Idflieg ordered 80 G.Vb aircraft, the first being delivered to Bogohl 3 in June 1918. By the Armistice, all 80 aircraft were built but the last batch did not reach the front and was delivered direct to the Allied special commission.
Operators
Specifications (Gotha G.V)
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
Performance
Armament
2 or 3 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine guns
See also
Gotha Raids Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- AEG G.I, AEG G.II, AEG G.III, AEG G.IV, AEG G.V
- Friedrichshafen G.I, Friedrichshafen G.II, Friedrichshafen G.III, Friedrichshafen G.IV
- Handley Page Type O
Related lists
References
- ^ "Big German Battleplane Splendidly Designed". Popular Mechanics. October, 1917. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)
- The Complete Encyclopedia of Flight 1848-1939 by John Batchelor and Malcolm V. Lowe