Rumpler C.IV

Rumpler C.IV
Role	Reconnaissance
Manufacturer	Rumpler
First flight	Sept 1916
Introduction	Feb 1917
Primary user	Germany
Number built	2200 ordered
Developed from	Rumpler C.III
Variants	Rumpler C.V, C.VII, C.VIII trainer, C.IX, Rubild
Wingspan	12.7 m (41 ft 7 in)
Engine	260hp Mercedes D.IVa inline
Armament	sync. fixed LMG08/15 and rear flexible Parabellum
Crew	2
Max Speed	171 km/h (106 mph)
Climb	500 m (1,640 ft) in 2:00 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 3:45 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 8:24 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 14:15
Ceiling	6,400 m (21,000 ft)
Endurance	3:30-4:00

Cleaning up the Rumpler C.I airframe and installing the excellent Mercedes D.IVa engine resulted in one of the best German reconnaissance aircraft of 1917-1918: the Rumpler C.IV. It was fast -- especially above 15,000 feet where few Entente scouts could match its speed. Its high-efficiency wings made it a superb vehicle for long-range and high altitude photography and reconnaissance. Due to their high-altitude performance, they were difficult to intercept by Entente aircraft.

Early troubles with vibrations and fuselage twisting resulted in the early C.IVs being withdrawn in April 1917 and the fuselage panels were strengthened with plywood, and aerodynamic testing showed that the spinner actually increased drag, so it was eliminated. Early planes used a ring mount for the observer's gun, but later ones used a bar, presumably to save weight. Early models also used a stick for the pilot (including a fairing for the elevator cables on the bottom of the fuselage), but later models used a wheel.

One interesting detail is that in order for the intake manifold of the Mercedes D.IVa engine to clear the forward cabane strut, it had to be mounted in with a slight rotation to the starboard.

A variety of high performance engines and minor modifications were made. Initially these were all designated as Rumpler C.IV's, but late in 1917 each of the variants was given its own C-type designation. This resulted in the C.V, C.VI (later renamed Rubild), C.VII, C.VIII trainer, C.IX, Rubild, and Rubild-Maybach variants, but at their heart they were all Rumpler C.IVs. C.IVs were used in Italy and Palestine as well as the Western Front.

For more information, see Wikipedia:Rumpler C.IV.

Timeline

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Official Stats

Availability	Maneuver	Damage	Dmg Points	Max Alt.	Climb	Points
Feb17-end	K	B/B	15	11	5	85

Plane and Crew Cards

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  Guntruck

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  FA209
  Guntruck

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  Marine
  Guntruck

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  Marine
  Guntruck

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

• Full-color miniatures:
  • Ares Wings of Glory: WGF211A FA7, WG211B FA(A)235, WGF211C Ziegert
  • Wings of War: WW23J MFFA 2; WW23K 8267/17; WW23L 8012/17
• Shapeways Paintable:
  • Early model: Decapod, Reduced Aircraft Factory, wow
  • Late model: wow
• Plastic or Resin Kit: Sram 144/033 (company defunct), Valom 14415, 14422, 14429
• Metal kit: Red Eagle, Reviresco

1:200 Scale

• Shapeways: wow (late)

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

• Shapeways: Decapod, Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:300 Scale

• Metal kit: Heroics & Ros GWA102

1:350 Scale

• Shapeways: Decapod

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

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  early model

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Argus Books, Airplane Archive: Aircraft of World War One, Volume 2. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-984-3
• 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.
• Jack Herris, Rumpler Aircraft of WWI. Aeronaut Books, 2014. ISBN 978-1-935881-21-6.
• W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027
• Kenneth Munson, Bombers: Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1914-1919. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968, Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0753721711