Albatros D. V Biplane (1917) & Daimler Mercedes 28-95 Targa Florio Roadster (1923)
The Albatros D.V was a fighter aircraft used by the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family, and the last Albatros fighter to see operational service.
The Albatros D. V though not the most famous plane piloted by Baron Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the Red Baron, was the one in which he sustained his most serious injuries in WW I prior to being shot down to his death a year later. The model shown here features the paint scheme flown by Richthofen with this aeroplane specification.
On 6 July 1917, during combat with a formation of F.E.2d two seat fighters of No. 20 Squadron RFC, near Wervicq, Richthofen sustained a serious head-wound, causing instant disorientation and temporary partial blindness. He regained consciousness in time to ease the aircraft out of a free-falling spin and executed a rough landing in a field within friendly territory. The injury required multiple surgical operations to remove bone splinters from the impact area. The air victory was credited to Captain Donald Cunnell of No. 20, who was himself shot down and killed a few days later (by anti-aircraft fire). The Red Baron returned to active service (against doctor's orders) on 25 July, but went on convalescent leave from 5 September to 23 October. His wound is thought to have caused lasting damage (he later often suffered from post-flight nausea and headaches) as well as a change in temperament. There is even a theory linking this injury with his eventual death.
In April 1917, Albatros received an order from the Idflieg (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen) for an improved version of the D.III. The resulting D.V prototype flew later that month.
The D.V closely resembled the D.III and used the same 127 kW (170 hp) Mercedes D.IIIa engine. The most notable difference was a new fuselage which was 32 kg (70 lb) lighter than that of the D.III. The elliptical cross-section required an additional longeron on each side of the fuselage. The vertical fin and tailplane remained unchanged from the D.III. The prototype D.V retained the standard rudder of the Johannisthal-built D.III, but production examples used the enlarged rudder featured on D.IIIs built by Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW). The D.V also featured a larger spinner and ventral fin.
The Albatros' Daimler-Merceds D.IIIa engine forms the link between aircraft and car.
The Daimler Motors Works, the cars of which bore the name 'Mercedes', had supplied aero engines with an inline six configuration to the German airforce and aero industry (the three pointed star representing air, land and sea transportation).
Prior to the introduction of the 28-95, Mercedes cars had features engines up to the configuration of the inline four cylinder (though of large capacity). The 28-95 featured a road car-developed version of the Daimler D.F. 80 Aero engine. The engine was of 7.25 litre capacity, featured overhead camshaft. The car engine debuted in the Mercedes racing cars at the Sarthe Grand Prix at Le Mans in August 1913.
The engine then formed the basis for a series of premium Mercedes models for 1914 on two wheelbase lengths, 3,555mm (140 in) and 3065mm (120.6 in). Few were built prior to the war, 20 in 1914, and a further 5 in 1915.
After the war, the 28-95 was reintroduced in 1920, 40 cars being completed that year.
A limitation of the engine was a four bearing crank and unbalance crankshaft. This limited to road engines to engine speed not far above the vibration limitation of the aero engines of 1,800 rpm. Output at 1,800 rpm was calculated at 99 bhp. Further development with a larger 7.3 litre capacity along with supercharging led to the 1922 racecar which took victory at the 1922 Targa Florio, driven by Max Sailer.
The Mercedes 28-95 Roadster shown here was an un-supercharged model released for public sale. Known as the 'Targa Florio' after the race-winning works models, and small number of which were produced with this rakish roadster bodywork.
This Albatros D. V Biplane (1917) & Daimler Mercedes 28-95 Targa Florio Roadster (1923) have both been created in Lego miniland-scale for Flickr LUGNuts' 79th build challenge, - "LUGNuts goes Wingnuts" , - featuring automotive creation inspired by, or with some relationship to aeronautical vehicles.
Albatros D. V Biplane (1917) & Daimler Mercedes 28-95 Targa Florio Roadster (1923)
The Albatros D.V was a fighter aircraft used by the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family, and the last Albatros fighter to see operational service.
The Albatros D. V though not the most famous plane piloted by Baron Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the Red Baron, was the one in which he sustained his most serious injuries in WW I prior to being shot down to his death a year later. The model shown here features the paint scheme flown by Richthofen with this aeroplane specification.
On 6 July 1917, during combat with a formation of F.E.2d two seat fighters of No. 20 Squadron RFC, near Wervicq, Richthofen sustained a serious head-wound, causing instant disorientation and temporary partial blindness. He regained consciousness in time to ease the aircraft out of a free-falling spin and executed a rough landing in a field within friendly territory. The injury required multiple surgical operations to remove bone splinters from the impact area. The air victory was credited to Captain Donald Cunnell of No. 20, who was himself shot down and killed a few days later (by anti-aircraft fire). The Red Baron returned to active service (against doctor's orders) on 25 July, but went on convalescent leave from 5 September to 23 October. His wound is thought to have caused lasting damage (he later often suffered from post-flight nausea and headaches) as well as a change in temperament. There is even a theory linking this injury with his eventual death.
In April 1917, Albatros received an order from the Idflieg (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen) for an improved version of the D.III. The resulting D.V prototype flew later that month.
The D.V closely resembled the D.III and used the same 127 kW (170 hp) Mercedes D.IIIa engine. The most notable difference was a new fuselage which was 32 kg (70 lb) lighter than that of the D.III. The elliptical cross-section required an additional longeron on each side of the fuselage. The vertical fin and tailplane remained unchanged from the D.III. The prototype D.V retained the standard rudder of the Johannisthal-built D.III, but production examples used the enlarged rudder featured on D.IIIs built by Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW). The D.V also featured a larger spinner and ventral fin.
The Albatros' Daimler-Merceds D.IIIa engine forms the link between aircraft and car.
The Daimler Motors Works, the cars of which bore the name 'Mercedes', had supplied aero engines with an inline six configuration to the German airforce and aero industry (the three pointed star representing air, land and sea transportation).
Prior to the introduction of the 28-95, Mercedes cars had features engines up to the configuration of the inline four cylinder (though of large capacity). The 28-95 featured a road car-developed version of the Daimler D.F. 80 Aero engine. The engine was of 7.25 litre capacity, featured overhead camshaft. The car engine debuted in the Mercedes racing cars at the Sarthe Grand Prix at Le Mans in August 1913.
The engine then formed the basis for a series of premium Mercedes models for 1914 on two wheelbase lengths, 3,555mm (140 in) and 3065mm (120.6 in). Few were built prior to the war, 20 in 1914, and a further 5 in 1915.
After the war, the 28-95 was reintroduced in 1920, 40 cars being completed that year.
A limitation of the engine was a four bearing crank and unbalance crankshaft. This limited to road engines to engine speed not far above the vibration limitation of the aero engines of 1,800 rpm. Output at 1,800 rpm was calculated at 99 bhp. Further development with a larger 7.3 litre capacity along with supercharging led to the 1922 racecar which took victory at the 1922 Targa Florio, driven by Max Sailer.
The Mercedes 28-95 Roadster shown here was an un-supercharged model released for public sale. Known as the 'Targa Florio' after the race-winning works models, and small number of which were produced with this rakish roadster bodywork.
This Albatros D. V Biplane (1917) & Daimler Mercedes 28-95 Targa Florio Roadster (1923) have both been created in Lego miniland-scale for Flickr LUGNuts' 79th build challenge, - "LUGNuts goes Wingnuts" , - featuring automotive creation inspired by, or with some relationship to aeronautical vehicles.