Breguet's aircraft ID challenge #542

Aquilius · 6 March 2009, 05:15 PM

Well, I must say: you both have to try again.

I'd love to see a picture of NFW's B.I, but the one we're looking for was not built in the near of Berlin.

And it's also not an Euler. "Werkenummer 47" was still a pusher type of 1912, probably bought by the bavarian army. And what got the code B47/14 must have been in the range of Wnr. 120 - Euler B.I, but that's not it.

This machine dates from 1916.

Cheers

Aquilius

AROTH · 6 March 2009, 05:39 PM

NFW B.I Picture

AROTH · 6 March 2009, 07:34 PM

Well, I have been completely thru "German Aircraft of the First World War" by Thetford and Gray about three times and have studied, in particular, the photos of the somewhat earlier lesser known or obscure types. The closest one that has some characteristics of the one in this photo is one of the earlier Aviatik B types, although, there are other differences.

So, it is either very, very obscure, or not German, or someone will look at that same book and find it and embarrass me........

Back to the resources...

Froggy · 7 March 2009, 12:15 AM

Bonjour à tous

This plane looks German but it is not German
So May Be a Swedish One ?
When looking at Jane's fighting aircraft p222, the Northen Aviatic Company
(NAB) made a Biplane Type 9,which looks like closely to the one of the challenge (but photo not taken from same angle)-Wings ,gravity tank,exhaust pipe and so on
The engine of this aircraft was a 110 HP mercedes
I dont find another photo of this little known plane(at least for me..) on Internet

Cordialement
Bruno

FOKKERJ · 7 March 2009, 01:17 AM

I actually can't find a foto of a S.A.M.L. 1, but understand it was based on the German Aviatik B.I. The rudder sure looks familiar.

Cheers, FOKKERJ

Froggy · 7 March 2009, 01:29 AM

Here is the photo of the Sweden NAB type 9

Cordialement
Bruno

FOKKERJ · 7 March 2009, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froggy

Here is the photo of the Sweden NAB type 9

Cordialement
Bruno

I like that, it would tie it into the Aviatik.

Aquilius · 7 March 2009, 04:38 AM

Unfortunately Bruno, it’s not the NAB type 9.
This was built by the drawings Lars Fjällbäck made of a confiscated Albatros B.II when war
broke out. The type was built then at almost every swedish aircraft factory (SAF, FVM,
Södertälje & finally NAB in 1917)

Our biplane is not even swedish!

Oh, and FokkerJ, I’m missing pictures of the S.A.M.L. types too – it’s also not italian.

It seems we are circling round the target, but we are just where we have been before...

Here is another backbord side-view:

Now you have all pictures I know of.

But are we still at the beginning?

To sum up the hints:

We are looking for a
• 1916 two-seater biplane, with a stumping german appearance
• powered by a 100 hp Mercedes D.I
(but the series machines got a similar water cooled 6-cylinder inline)
• a small series was built and it went into service

• not russian
• not swedish
• not italian
• no Albatros, Aviatik, Euler, Germania, Kondor, NFW or LVG – it’s not even german!
(Aroth, thatswhy you won’t find it in “German Aircraft of WWI.”
You don’t need to go through it again – better look somewhere else.

)

Good luck!

Aquilius

@Aroth – thanks a lot for the NFW B.I! – looks pretty close

Rbailey · 7 March 2009, 05:54 AM

Could it be one of the Swiss Wild machines- the Wild Spezial has a similar engine installation and the exact placement of the stabilizer fits,

Varese2002 · 7 March 2009, 05:57 AM

The machine is Schweizerich (Suisse) !! It is the K+W Thun DH2 designed by engineer Haefeli (who was before the war designer with AGO in Germany). A total of six was built. Machine was not very well liked by the Suisse fliers and the engine (Argus II) was too low powered.

Of course the Swiss emblem on the rudder has been carefully wiped out

The machine was a characteristically German look-alike, but the connection of the top wing to the fuselage with an extra rod (visible in the first challenge picture) is quite unique.

Cheers

Kees