Aviatik C.I (Austria-Hungary)

In 1915-1916 Aviatik was forced to build and test the disastrous Knoller aircraft, and this delayed the introduction of the Aviatik C.I by months if not a full year. Ninety-six were ordered in March 1917 as Series 37 using either the 185hp or 200hp Daimler engine. The prototypes were found to be easy to fly, and licenses were spread to other companies with a total of 255 C.Is ordered. Once it started to reach the front in August 1917, high hopes for the type were shattered by shoddy construction, which took a few months to correct. Pilots used to the stability of the Brandenburg C.I found it touchy to fly until they got used to the light touch it required. The Series 37 saw use with fifteen Fliks.

Planes of a second order, Series 137, arrived at the front in November 1917. They were expected to all mount the 200hp Daimler, but shortages forced them into the same set of engines as the original series. Again workmanship problems plagued them in the early months and were not corrected until early 1918. They saw service with thirteen Fliks.

Some C.Is were converted to single-seat escort and photo-reconnaissance planes. March 1918 saw their premier, and the plane included a parachute and mounted the 200hp engine.

While it was fast, the C.I was also though of as rather fragile and harder to land than the ubiquitous Brandenburg C.I.

Lloyd built the Aviatik C.I(Ll) Series 47 under contract, but most of the forty-five planes contracted were never finished. Most that made it to service were used for photo-reconnaissance briefly before moving to training duties.

WKF built forty Aviatik C.I(WKF) Series 83, but shortages of engines and guns delayed deployment until spring 1918 or later. Several of these were also converted to single-seat photo-reconnaissance planes.

MAG was contracted to build fifty with the 200hp Daimler(MAG) engine, but shortages of engines and armament led to few being delivered.

1:144 Scale

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