L.V.G. B.I

The LVG B.I had proven itself in pre-war racing and -- once put into production -- it served in large numbers (for the time) during the early months of the war. In fact, during 1914 it was the most numerous German plane, comprising almost half the air force in August 1914. In 1915 it was only surpassed by the Albatros B.II, and it was only in the latter half of 1915 that it started to be phased out in favor of armed C-class planes. The pilot was in the rear seat, which was normal for B-class planes. It started the LVG trend of ailerons with two angles of attack, with the aileron tip set at a flatter, washed-out angle.

Twenty-four were built by Euler under license, but he so heavily modified the design the Euler-built planes should be regarded as a derivative design. Otto built over one hundred L.V.G. B.I's and stuck to the well-proven design except for minor modifications such as the attachment of the forward center struts and the dividing line between metal and cloth siding, which was vertical in the Otto machines and slanted in the L.V.G.s. Otto machines were initially known as the Otto B.I but were later standardized as the L.V.G. B.I(Ot).

The factory designation was the L.V.G. D.IV, which was confusing since it was not a fighter, but the early-war designations were still in flux and it wasn't until August 1915 that the B.I nomenclature was universal.

Roughly 400-450 were built and perhaps another 170-175 by Otto for the Bavarian air forces. After its combat career faded in late 1915, the B.I still served for several years as a trainer or squadron "hack".

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory