Albatros D.IV

The Albatros D.IV was an experimental German biplane fighter aircraft. It was built and tested during the First World War with a geared version of the 120kW Mercedes D.III engine. This Mercedes engine was entirely covered by the fuselage. The aircraft had the D.II wing cellude and D.Va fuselage as well as other alterations to the rudder balance and horizontal stabilizer.

Three aircraft were ordered in November 1916. However, only one was actually tested, which revealed that the D.IV had excessive vibration problems and an insufficient performance increase over the D.III to justify further development.

Specifications
Data from German Aircraft of the First World War  & The Complete Book of Fighters

General characteristics Performance
 * Crew: 1
 * Length: 7.33 m (24 ft 1 in)
 * Wingspan: 9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
 * Height: 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
 * Wing area: 20.50 m2 (220.7 sq ft)
 * Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III geared water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
 * Propellers: 2-bladed wooden propeller
 * Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph; 89 kn)
 * Range: 350 km (217 mi; 189 nmi)
 * Endurance: 2 hours 12 minutes
 * Rate of climb: 2.6 m/s (510 ft/min)
 * Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 32 minutes