Sources:
www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/albatros-dva-l24-reproduction
www.oldrhinebeck.org/index.php?option=co...batros-dva&Itemid=87
From Museum of Flight:
Manufacturer: Art Williams of Germany (airframe and wings) and Jim and Zona Appleby then of Riverside, California (assembly and finish work), based on the design of Albatros (Germany)
Model: D.Va Reproduction
Span: 9.04m / 30ft
Year: 1917
Length: 7.47m / 25ft
Height: 2.69m / 9ft
Wing Area: 21.27m² / 229ft²
Short Title: Albatros D.Va
Empty Weight: 685.39kg / 1,511lbs
Gross Weight: 934.87kg / 2,061lbs
Maximum Speed: 186.64km/h
Power Plant: One Mercedes D IIIa, 160- or 200-horsepower in-line engine
Registration: NX36DV
Albatros D.Va (L24) Reproduction
An Elusive Beauty
Flyers sometimes say that, "If a plane looks good, it's bound to fly good too." The Albatros D.Va might be an exception. While the fighter looks like a winner -- smooth, cigar-like fuselage and beautifully-shaped wings, a Mercedes D IIIa, 160- or 200-horsepower in-line engine and two 7.92mm Spandau machine guns -- the D.Va was the end of a long line of modified designs.
Near the beginning of the run, the Albatros D.I and D.IIs were considered fast, hearty, and well-armed compared to the opponents they met in the skies. In the end, the Albatros model D.Va had lost ground when matched against the more powerful SPAD and S.E.5a or the maneuverable Sopwith Camel. "The D.V is so outdated that one does not risk anything with it," were the harsh words from famous ace Manfred von Richthofen, "And the people at home, for nearly a year, have developed nothing better than the lousy Albatros."
Besides sub-standard performance, the Albatros' "V" wing struts made the lower wing susceptible to flutter, twist, and failure. Note that this version, the D.Va, a small extra support has been designed and installed to extend from the leading edge of the lower wing to help strengthen the union between the wing and the wing strut. Even after the fix, pilots were often instructed not to dive too steeply in the Albatros -- not a morale booster to be sure!
But despite these deficiencies, the Albatros factory was willing and capable of producing large numbers of planes and the war was raging. The result was that, when an Allied pilot encountered a German fighter, it was usually an Albatros. Over 1,500 examples of the D.V and D.Va were made.
The Museum's D.Va's airframe and wings were built by Art Williams in Germany. The final assembly and finish work was completed by Jim and Zona Appleby.
From Old Rhinebeck:
The Albatros D.Va was the result of the development and refinement of a long series of successful Albatros scouts. Many noted pilots flew the type in service, and it generally received favorable reviews. Manfred von Richthofen (a.k.a. the Red Baron) scored many of his victories in Albatros types. He also had the unfortunate experience of being shot down in one.
The aircraft on display is finished in the colors of the aircraft of Hauptman Eduard Ritter von Schleich, Commanding Officer of Jasta 21. Following the death of his close friend Leutnant Limpert, he painted his entire aircraft black and became known as the "Black Knight". Von Schleich survived the war having destroyed 35 enemy aircraft, and received numerous awards for his efforts including Germany's highest honor, the Pour le Merite (more popularly known as "The Blue Max"). He died in 1947 while ill and held captive in a British P.O.W. camp.
This reproduction aircraft was built by Cole Palen, Gordon Bainbridge, and Neil Boehme. It made its first flight in October of 1975 with an original 120 H.P. Mercedes engine. Shortly thereafter the Mercedes crankshaft broke and with much reluctance the Albatros was fitted with a more modern Ranger engine. This however allowed thousands of visitors to the Aerodrome to witness and enjoy the beauty of the Albatros in flight for several years to follow.
Additional Info
Country:Germany
Year:1917
Engine:Mercedes
Horsepower:160-180hp
Quantity Mfg:2505+ D.V and D.Va
Wingspan:29'-7
Length:24'-5/8
Top Speed:107mph (172km/hr)
Height:9'-4
Gr. Weight:2017 lbs (915 kg)
Ceiling:19,029' (5800m)