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Rumpler D.I

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Rumpler D.I
Role Fighter
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Rumpler
First flight 1917

The Rumpler D.I (factory designation 8D1) was a fighter reconnaissance aircraft produced in Germany at the end of the First World War.[1] It was a conventional single-bay biplane with wings of unequal span braced by I-struts.[2] It featured an open cockpit and fixed, tailskid undercarriage.[2] The upper wing was fitted with aerodynamically balanced ailerons and fuselage had an oval cross-section.[3]

The D.I had a protracted development through the course of 1917, with at least six different development prototypes built before Rumpler settled on a final design in 1918 in time for the Idflieg's D-type competition at Adlershof.[2] Two 8D1s participated, powered by Mercedes D.III engines.[2] Another one participated in the follow-on competition in autumn, this time with a BMW engine.[2] The Idflieg approved the type for production and issued the designation D.I, but although a small number were produced, the war was practically over and none saw operational service.[2]

Variants

  • 7D1 - initial prototype with comma-style balanced rudder, wide-chord I-struts, and upper wing supported by pylon faired into engine cowling. The entire fuselage was skinned in plywood. The radiator was mounted in the upper wing, set off the port side of the supporting pylon.[4]
  • 7D2 - identical to 7D1 but with vertical stabiliser added[4]
  • 7D4 - similar to 7D2 with conventional struts in place of I-struts, conventional cabane struts in place of central pylon, radiator moved to wing centreline, and central fuselage skinned in fabric.[5]
  • 7D5
  • 7D7 - similar to 7D4 but with wing bracing again using I-struts (this time of narrow chord) and the bracing wires simplified. The flush-mounted radiator in the wing was replaced by ear-style frontal radiators on the forward fuselage[5]
  • 7D8 - very similar to 7D7, with wire bracing simplified further (no landing wires at all)[6]
  • 8D1 - final version approved for production as D I[3]

Specifications (D.I)

Data from Gray & Thetford 1962, p.518

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two, pilot and observer

Performance

Notes

  1. ^ Taylor 1989, p.771–72
  2. ^ a b c d e f The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, p.2834
  3. ^ a b Gray & Thetford 1962, p.537
  4. ^ a b Gray & Thetford 1962, p.534
  5. ^ a b Gray & Thetford 1962, p.535
  6. ^ Gray & Thetford 1962, p.536

References

  • Gray, Peter (1962). German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing.
  • Kroschel, Günter (1994). Die Deutschen Militärflugzeuge 1910–1918. Herford: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.