Hansa-Brandenburg B.I
The Hansa-Brandenburg B.I was an unarmed military trainer and reconnaissance biplane of World War I, flown by the Austro-Hungarian Air Service. Early models were known internally to the Hansa-Brandenburg firm as the type D, while later models with a more powerful engine were designated FD. This aircraft was one of the earliest designs of Ernst Heinkel, who was working for Hansa-Brandenburg at the time. It was an entirely conventional two-bay biplane with staggered wings of unequal span. The pilot and observer sat in tandem in a long open cockpit.
The aircraft was produced under license by Aero, both during the war and afterwards, and also by Letov, as the Š10. Experience gained with this design would provide Aero with the basis for a number of derivative civil and military designs throughout the 1920s.
The design formed the basis for the C.I and C.II armed reconnaissance types.
Development and design
In April–May 1914, the aircraft designer Ernst Heinkel joined the newly established Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke after leaving Albatros Flugzeugwerke, and shortly afterwards, Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke merged with Hansa-Flugzeugwerke to become Hansa-Brandenburg. Heinkel's first design for Hansa-Brandenburg was the Type D, a single-engined reconnaissance aircraft. It was a two-bay biplane with wood and fabric wings and tail surfaces, and a fuselage of steel tube structure covered with plywood. It was powered by a Benz Bz.II engine. Twelve Type Ds were built by Brandenburg for the German Army air arm in 1914.The Type FD was an improved derivative of the D, with revised tail surfaces and two- or three-bay wings with inward sloping wing struts. It was powered by a Benz B.II engine, or a Mercedes engine. Eight or nine were built in 1914, and given the German designation Brandenburg B.I.
The Type LDD was a further improved aircraft, differing from the FD by having a wooden engine mount rather than the steel mounts by the earlier versions, which saved weight. The type was built by Brandenburg for the Austro-Hungarian Army Air Arm, and under license by the Austro-Hungarian Army's aircraft works at Fischamend, in a series of gradually improved versions, with various powerplants, serving initially as an unarmed reconnaissance aircraft and later as a trainer. Brandenburg built 102 LDDs, while over 400 were built at Fischamend, with production continuing until shortly after the end of the First World War.
Variants
; D : Initial version with Benz Bz.II engine. Twelve built.; FD: Revised version with modified tail and Benz Bz.II or Mercedes engine. Designated Brandenburg B.I by Germany. Eight or nine built.
; LDD: Improved version with lighter structure. Large scale production for Austria-Hungary. Designated Brandenburg B.I by Austria-Hungary.
;;Brandenburg B.I Series 05.1
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 06.5
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 75
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 76
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 176
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 276
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 77
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 78
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 278
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 79
;; Brandenburg B.I Series 279
Operators
- Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops
- Austro-Hungarian Navy
- Polish Air Force
- Czechoslovak Air Force
- Royal Hungarian Air Force
- Yugoslav Royal Air Force
- Letalski center Maribor