AIRCRAFT COLOURS AND MARKINGS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA

Albatros W.4


The W.4 was developed from the Albatros D.I and featured larger wings and tail surfaces compared to the earlier type. The original floats were prone to failure and were replaced by various other designs - none of which were completely successful. The design went through other changes to its radiator type - larger ear radiators and then ultimately upperwing airfoil designs being added. Initially just one machine gun was fitted, but a second one was added with the first production batch. The last two batches had ailerons fitted to both upper and lower wings in an attempt to improve handling.
May 1916 - 3 Aircraft - 747, 785, 786 - Early floats - box radiator - single machine gun - upper wing ailerons only
Sept 1916 - 10 Aircraft - 902-911 - Revised floats - box - single machine gun - upper wing ailerons only
Oct 1916 - 20 Aircraft - 948-967 - Revised floats - box radiator - two machine guns - upper wing ailerons only
Dec 1916 - 10 Aircraft - 1107-1116 - Revised floats - larger ear radiator from August 1917 - two MGs - upper wing ailerons only
Jan 1917 - 25 Aircraft - 1302-1326 - Revised floats - larger ear radiators - two MGs - upper wing ailerons only
Apr 1917 - 30 aircraft - 1484-1513 - Revised floats - Airfoil radiator in upper wings - two MGs - ailerons on both wings
Aug 1917 - 20 aircraft - 1719-1738 - Revised floats - Airfoil radiator in upper wings - two MGs - ailerons on both wings
The first W.4s were finished with varnished and/or stained fuselages, plain wings and tail surfaces and light grey metalwork. Floats were either plain varnised or light grey. Later the fuselage was given a coat of grey, and naval lozenge applied to the upper surfaces. Many could be seen with two or three tone paint to the fuselages, most likely in different shades of grey.
Never a complete success, the Rumpler 6B1 was prefered to the W.4, and both were soon superceded by the Brandenburg W.12
There is a Mini Datafile devoted to the Albatros W.4.

 


Albatros W.4 747

August-September 1916
Source: Windsock 5/2
Revised 2012

Albatros W.4 911
Viktor Schulz
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Source: W4 Mini Datafile


Albatros W.4 1512
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Source: W4 Mini Datafile