AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Albatros B.I


The Albatros B.I was built in two basic versions, Mercedes and Benz powered. The early B.I was powered by the Mercedes D.I engine and featured a rounded rudder. This was soon changed to a triangular shape. Later, a Benz engine was installed, and to provide for the proper centre of gravity, the fuselage was extended 56cm. The exhaust on the Mercedes exited on the right, while that of the Benz on the left.

Produced at the same time as the B.II, the only difference between the two types was the former had three sets of struts to each wing, while the latter had two. Roughly 250 B.Is were built with many surviving into 1918 as trainers. Besides the German Air Service, the B.I was also used by the Dutch, Austro-Hungarian and Russian air services - albeit, the last mentioned was a captured example

The Albatros B.I belonged to the era before colourful markings and was finished in overall clear - plain varnished fuselage and clear doped wings was the order of the day. Crosses were often seen on both surfaces of upper and lower wings as well as the fin/rudder. They could be either directly painted on the fabric, or on white fields. Serials were often left off of factory aircraft.

The Albatros B.I is featured in Datafile No.87.


 


Albatros B.I
Wunderlich/Oblt Schulz
F.Fl.Abt 2
August 1916
Source: Albatros B.I Datafile


Albatros B.I

F.Fl.Abt 2

Source:Albatros B.I Datafile