Ago C.I

From Wings of Linen
Ago C.I
Role Reconnaissance
Manufacturer Ago
Designer Haefeli, Schropp, & Letsch [1]
First flight ~Jan 1915[1]
Introduction June 1915 [1]
Primary user Germany
Number built ~64[1][2]
Wingspan 2-bay: 14.2 m (46 ft 6 in)[3]
3-bay: 15.0 m (49 ft 2 in)[3][4]
Engine 150hp Benz Bz.III or
160hp Mercedes D.III [note 1]
Armament flexible nose Parabellum
Crew 2
Max Speed 130 km/h (81 mph)[6][4] to
145 km/h (90 mph)[7][3]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 9:30[6][4]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 24:00[6][4]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 30:00[3]-45:00[6][4]
Range 580 km (360 mi)[3]
Endurance ~4:00 [7]

The twin-boom Ago C.I and Ago C.II pushers were instantly recognizable, just as their spiritual brethren the P-38 Lightning would be in the next world war. Small numbers of them were used for reconnaissance in 1915-1916, tailing off after summer.[8]

The Ago was one of the very few single-engine pushers used by the Germans, and it holds the distinction of being the first German plane armed with the Parabellum LMG14 machine gun, where the prototype was used in combat evaluation in April 1915. Around sixty-four of them were built in several small batches between February and October 1915. The maximum at the front was a little under two dozen in Spring to mid-summer 1916 (with an unexplained dip in numbers in April). Air crews found it easy to fly and robust, and its lifetime was extended even though it was never seen in large numbers. Once pilots grew accustomed to its characteristics, the forward nose-over wheels were frequently removed. While the forward field-of-fire was excellent, the lack of rear protection eventually turned into a major limitation. [1]

Despite their good qualities, the Ago pushers were swimming uphill against strategic thought in German air and naval command, who strongly preferred tractor biplanes to pushers. The Bavarian air service was more open to pushers, and the navy bought some, including one floatplane version, the Ago C.Iw.[9]

For more information, see Wikipedia:AGO C.I.

Timeline [note 2]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Preliminary Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
15Q2-17Q1 Y B/- 13 10 7
Card Links

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

  • Benz, full undercarriage

    Benz, full undercarriage

  • Mercedes, reduced undercarriage

    Mercedes, reduced undercarriage

References

Notes
  1. ↑ A handful used the 160hp Maybach Mb.III.[5]
  2. ↑ German numbers are from bi-monthly Frontbestand records (Effective Frontline Strength).[10]
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Updated card
Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Grosz'99, p.33.
  2. ↑ Herris'19, p.104.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lamberton, pp.220-221.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Herris'19, p.94.
  5. ↑ Herris, p.115.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Grosz'99, p.32.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gray, p.247.
  8. ↑ Gray, p.247.
  9. ↑ Herris'19, pp.104-155.
  10. ↑ Grosz'85, p.60 and Grosz'86, p.66.
Bibliography
  • Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
  • Peter M. Grosz, "Archiv -- Frontbestand". WW1 Aero, № 107, Dec 1985 and № 108, Feb 1986. Poughkeepsie, NY: World War I Aeroplanes, Inc.
  • P.M. Grosz, Windsock Datafile 75: Ago C.I. Great Britain: Albatros Publications, Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-902207-16-5
  • Jack Herris, Otto, AGO, and BFW Aircraft of WWI. USA: Aeronaut Books, 2019. ISBN 978-1-935881-78-0.
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027
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