LVG B.I
Role	Two-seat reconnaissance biplane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte

The LVG B.I was a 1910s German two-seat reconnaissance biplane designed by Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft for the Luftstreitkräfte.

[edit] Development

LVG had been involved in the operation of dirigibles before it started design, in 1912, of the companies first original design the B.I. The B.I was an unequal-span two-seat biplane with a fixed tailskid landing gear. It was powered by a nose-mounted 80 kW (100 hp) Mercedes D.I engine. After entering service an improved variant, the B.II was developed with a cut-out in the upper wing to improve visibility for the pilot in the rear cockpit and fitted with a 90 kW (120 hp) Mercedes D.II engine. The B.II entered service in 1915 and although mainly used as a trainer it was used for unarmed reconnaissance and scouting duties. A further variant was the B.III which had structural strengthening to allow it to be used as a trainer.

[edit] Variants

• B.I - Production variant powered by a 80 kW (100 hp) Mercedes D.I engine.
• B.II - Improved variant powered by a 90 kW (120 hp) Mercedes D.II engine.
  • Lebedev IX - Captured B.II rebuilt by Lebed and sold to the Imperial Russian Air Force
• B.III - Training variant with strengthened structures.

[edit] Specifications (B.I)

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot, observer)
• Length: 8.30 m (27 ft 2¾ in)
• Wingspan: 12.12 m (39 ft 9¼ in)
• Height: 2.95 m (9 ft 8¼ in)
• Wing area: 35.40 m² (381.05 ft²)
• Empty weight: 726 kg (1,600 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,075 kg (2,370 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.I inline piston engine, 75 kW (100 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)
• Endurance: 4 hours  0 min

[edit] See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany
  

[edit] References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 

v • d • e Aircraft produced by LVG B.I • B.II • B.III C.I • C.II • C.III • C.IV • C.V • C.VI • C.VIII • C.IX D 10 • D.II • D.III • D.IV • D.V • D.VI E.I G.I • G.II • G.III

v • d • e Aircraft produced by Lebed VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • XV • XVI • XVII • XVIII • XXI • XXIV LM-1 • LM-2

v • d • e Idflieg B-class aircraft designations AEG: B.I  • B.II  • B.III Albatros: B.I  • B.II  • B.III Aviatik: B.I  • B.II DFW: B.I  • B.II Euler: B.I  • B.II  • B.III Halberstadt: B.I  • B.II  • B.III Kondor: B.I LVG: B.I  • B.II  • B.III NFW: B.I Otto: B.I Rumpler: B.I Sablatnig: B.I

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