Linke-Hofmann R.II
| Linke-Hofmann R.II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Linke-Hofmann R.II, note the size of the figures compared to the aircraft | |
| Role | Bomber |
| National origin | German Empire |
| Manufacturer | Linke-Hofmann[1] |
| Designer | Paul Stumpf[1] |
| First flight | 1919[1] |
| Number built | 2[1] |
|
| |
The Linke-Hofmann R.II (Riesenflugzeug – "giant aircraft") was a bomber aircraft designed and built in Germany from 1917.[1]
Design and development
The Linke-Hofmann R.I had disappointing performance and handling, as well as structural weakness with both prototypes crashing. Linke-Hofmann took a radically different approach for their second Riesenflugzeug, the Linke-Hofmann R.II. The R.II was an approximately three-fold scale-up of a conventional single-engined biplane, powered by a quartet of Mercedes D.IVa inline-six engines turning a single 6.90 meter (22 ft 7.5 in) diameter tractor propeller, the largest single propeller ever used to propel any aircraft in aviation history.[1] The quartet of Mercedes powerplants were arranged in pairs in the central fuselage and drove the propeller through clutches, shafts and gearboxes. The Linke-Hofmann R.II, probably the largest single propeller driven aircraft that will ever be built, had a wing span of 41.16 m (135 ft 0 in), length of 23.3 m (76 ft 5 in) and height of 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in).[Note 1][1]
The airframe was constructed largely of wood, with plywood covering the forward fuselage and a steel-tube v-strut chassis main undercarriage with two wheels and a tail-skid at the aft end of the fuselage. Two examples of the R.II had been completed by the time the Armistice bore the IdFlieg German military registration numbers R.55/17 and R.58/17.[1]
Flight testing of R 55/17 was carried out after the Armistice in 1919, demonstrating acceptable performance and handling, being able to fly happily with only two engines driving the enormous propeller. Normal endurance was estimated to be 7 hours, but with adjustment of load and a cruising speed of 74 mph (119 km/h) it was estimated that the R.II could stay aloft for 30 hours.[1]
There were plans to make it a 12 passenger airliner after the war, but the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty ended further development.[1]
Specifications (Linke-Hofmann R.II)
Data from German Aircraft of the First World War[1][2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 6+
- Length: 20.316 m (66 ft 7-7/8 in)
- Wingspan: 42.16 m (138 ft 4 in)
- Height: 7.1 m (23 ft 3-5/8 in)
- Wing area: 320 m2 (3,443 ft2)
- Empty weight: 8,000 kg (17,640 lb)
- Gross weight: 12,000 kg (26,460 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × Mercedes D.IVa, 193.9 kW (260 hp) each each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81.25 mph)
- Endurance: 7 hours
- Rate of climb: 2.08 m/s (410 ft/min)
Armament
- 3 x machine-guns in two dorsal and one ventral positions.
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII Steffen
- Related lists
Notes
- ↑ As a comparison, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber of World War II had a wingspan of around 43 m (141 ft 1 in).
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Haddow, G.W. & Grosz, Peter M. The German Giants, The Story of the R-planes 1914-1919. London. Putnam. 1963.
- Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen. German Aircraft of the First World War. London, Putnam. ISBN 0-370-00103-6
- Wagner, Ray and Nowarra, Heinz. German Combat Planes: A Comprehensive Survey and History of the Development of German Military Aircraft from 1914 to 1945. New York: Doubleday, 1971.
- "The Linke-Hofmann Giant Machines" (pdf). Flight. XI (40; number 562): 1311–1314. October 2, 1919. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
translated from a descriptive article in Flugsport