W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

AVIATIK (BERG) D II Austria-Hungary

   Featuring a fuselage virtually identical to that of the D I, the DII was flown as a prototype in the summer of 1917, this, the Aviatik 30.22, actually employing much of the structure of the 30.21 (see D I). The DII was characterised by a short-span cantilever lower wing, and a series of 19 aircraft was built for frontline evaluation, these being powered by either the 200 hp (Series 39) or 225 hp (Series 339) Austro-Daimler engine. A four-bladed Jaray propeller was fitted, and armament consisted of the usual paired Schwarzlose 8-mm guns. The first three series aircraft were tested in November 1917, and seven were evaluated at the front, but the decision that O-UF Aviatik should licence-manufacture the Fokker D VII terminated any plans to build the DII in quantity. One DII airframe was experimentally fitted with a 200 hp Hiero engine as the Aviatik 30.38, and participated in the July 1918 D-Contest. With the 225 hp Austro-Daimler engine the D II attained 137 mph (220 km/h). The following details relate to the 200 hp version.

Max speed, 130 mph (210 km/h).
Time to 3,280 ft (1 000 m), 2.6 min, to 6,560 ft (2 000 m), 6.6 min.
Empty weight, 1,294 lb (587 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,786 lb (810 kg).
Span, 24 ft 7 1/4 in (7.50 m).
Length, 22 ft 10 3/4 in (6,98 m).

P.Grosz, G.Haddow, P.Shiemer Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One

Aviatik 30.22

  Along with the 30.19 fighter, Berg proposed a high-speed version without wire bracing powered by a 200 hp Daimler engine. The top wing was supported by two diagonal struts and the lower wing was fully cantilevered. On 20 September 1916, Aviatik was permitted to proceed at its own risk with Flars providing technical support. The prototype, consisting of the modified 30.21 airframe, appeared at Aspern on 26 February 1917 under the designation 30.23 but changed to 30.22 in March 1917. Uncertain of structural integrity, Flars carefully checked the stress calculations and subjected the airframe to exacting load tests before proceeding with flight trials. The wing cellule failed the specified load conditions on 13 March; it was reinforced and tested successfully on 23 April 1917.
  The 30.22 first flew on 25 April 1917. Test pilot Feldwebel Tordik reported greater sensitivity than that of the 30.19. But the bottom wing was seen to flex appreciably in flight, causing Aviatik to withdraw the 30.22 for modification. It came to Aspern for further testing on 2 June and was returned to the factory where it was last reported in July 1917. Further data are lacking. The high speed demonstrated by the 30.22 caused Flars to order a small batch of Aviatik D.II series 39 fighters for frontline evaluation.

Aviatik 30.22 Specifications
Engine: 200 hp Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 7.50 m (24.61 ft)
Span Lower 5.20 m (17.06 ft)
Chord Upper 1.55 m (5.09 ft)
Chord Lower 1.55 m (5.09 ft)
Dihedral Upper 0 deg
Dihedral Lower 0 deg
Sweepback Upper 0 deg
Sweepback Lower 0 deg
Gap 1.45 m (4.76 ft)
Stagger 0.25 m (0.82 ft)
Total Wing Area 19.5 sq m (210 sq ft)
General: Length 6.98 m (22.90 ft)
Height 2.45 m (8.04 ft)
Track 1.80 m (5.91 ft)
Empty Weight 681.5 kg (1503 lb)
Loaded Weight 801.5 kg (1767 lb)
Maximum Speed: 199 km/hr (124 mph)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 4 min 56 sec
2000m (6,562 ft) in 11 min 7 sec
3000m (9,843 ft) in 26 min
4000m (13,124 ft) in 41 min


Aviatik 30.38

  The Aviatik 30.38, a production D.II series 39 fighter powered by a 200 hp Hiero engine in place of the standard 200 hp Daimler, participated in the July 1918 Fighter Evaluation for comparison purposes. During the evaluation the 30.38 recorded substantially lower climb rates than the production Aviatik D.II. On 25 September 1918, the 30.38 was at the Aviatik factory undergoing modification. Further information is lacking.

Aviatik 30.38 Specifications
Engine: 200 hp Hiero
General: Empty Weight 655 kg (1444 lb)
Loaded Weight 915 kg (2018 lb)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 4 min
2000m (6,562 ft) in 11 min
3000m (9,843 ft) in 18 min 50 sec


Aviatik D.II Series 39 and 339

  Flight tests of the 30.22 "wireless" prototype were sufficiently promising for Flars to order, on 5 December 1917, nine Aviatik D.II "wireless" fighters for further trials followed by a second batch of 10 aircraft on 10 May 1918. A total of 16 D.II fighters were completed, consisting of aircraft 39.01 to 39.11 powered by the 200 hp Daimler engine and D.II 339.01 (ex 39.09) to 339.06 powered by the 225 hp Daimler. The series numbers 139 and 239 were not used. The modest D.II purchase by Flars was solely for engineering and high-speed investigation, including brief frontline evaluation. The D.II was never intended to replace the Aviatik D.I fighter nor was it considered a priority program at any time.
  Aircraft 39.01 and 39.03 made their appearance at Aspern on 10 August 1917, performing flight trials through November. On 3 October 1917, 39.01 attained 217 km/h (135 mph) making it the fastest Austro-Hungarian fighter to date, although the climb rate was below that of the Aviatik D.I series 138. Aircraft 39.02, assigned in February 1918 to the weapons group at Fischamend, was used to test the experimental Elektro machine gun fitted with a British Aldis sight. Subsequently it was tested with the Gebauer motor machine gun. The nose radiator was standard with exception of aircraft 39.10, 39.11, 339.01 and 339.02 that were equipped with Hefa side radiators and aircraft 339.03 and 339.06 with leading-edge wing radiators.
  In February 1918, aircraft 39.01 and 39.03, known as the "U-Berg" type (U = unverspannt = wireless) and armed with twin synchronized machine guns, were assigned to Flik 61/J for service evaluation personally supervised by the commanding officer, Oberleutnant Ernst Strohschneider. The technical report submitted in May 1918 stated that the speed was far greater than that of the Albatros D.III(Oef). This was especially true of 39.03, which had a metal fairing between the fuselage and lower wing to improve airflow. Visibility was just as poor as in the series 138. At full throttle, the propeller wash caused the wing struts to vibrate some 6 to 8 centimeters, causing alarming airframe vibration, particularly in tight turns. Aileron control was sluggish.
  Three "wireless" fighters participated in the July 1918 Fighter Evaluation at Aspern: 339.02 fitted with a four-bladed propeller and armed with the Gebauer motor machine gun, the 30.38 prototype (a D.II airframe powered by a 200 hp Hiero engine) and 339.01 (ex-39.09). Oberleutnant Benno Fiala reported that the 339.01 (equipped with side radiators) had the better visibility that could be enhanced by fitting a top-wing radiator and reducing the engine cowling height. Among the competitors, 339.01 recorded the slowest rate of climb, requiring an additional 12 minutes to reach 5000 meters (16,405 ft) compared to the fastest climber, the Aviatik D.I 338.03. The experimental nature of the D.II program is evident from the fact that the three D.II variants all had different wing areas.
  In July 1918, five D.II fighters (39.04 to 39.08) were dispatched to the Front for service assessment. Aircraft 39.10 and 39.11, equipped as photo-reconnaissance fighters, were assigned to Flik 46/P in September 1918. One D.II series 39 was based at the field flying school Neumarkt. Aircraft 339.03 and 339.06 were dispatched to the 6th Army on the Piave Front in September 1918. It is unlikely that any of the above aircraft saw combat service. The Aviatik D.II, an interesting high-performance project, was not considered for further production according to the August 1918 schedule.

Aviatik D.II Series 39 Specifications
Engine: 200 hp Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 7.50 m (24.61 ft)
Span Lower 5.20 m (17.06 ft)
Chord Upper 1.75 m (5.74 ft)
Chord Lower 1.65 m (5.41 ft)
Total Wing Area 19.5 sq m (210 sq ft)
General: Length 6.98 m (22.90 ft)
Height 2.45 m (8.04 ft)
Track 1.80 m (5.91 ft)
Loaded Weight 845 kg (1863 lb)
Maximum Speed: 217 km/hr (135 mph)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 3 min 5 sec
2000m (6,562 ft) in 6 min 2 sec
3000m (9,843 ft) in 10 min 55 sec
4000m (13,124 ft) in 18 min 7 sec

Aviatik D.II 339.01 Specifications
Engine: 225 hp Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 8.00 m (26.25 ft)
Total Wing Area 22.44 sq m (242 sq ft)
General: Length 7.10 m (23.29 ft)
Height 2.60 m (8.53 ft)
Track 1.80 m (5.91 ft)
Empty Weight 668 kg (1473 lb)
Loaded Weight 947 kg (2088 lb)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 3 min 39 sec
2000m (6,562 ft) in 7 min 17 sec
3000m (9,843 ft) in 11 min 32 sec
4000m (13,124 ft) in 16 min 54 sec
5000m (16,405 ft) in 28 min 36 sec

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

30. Flugzeuge der Österreichischen Aviatik-Werke Wien, Stadlau
30.22 Berg D Prototyp für D.II (Umbau 30.21) Dm 200
30.38 Berg D Prototyp für D.II H 200
39.01 — 39.11 Aviatik D.II Berg Dm 200
339.01 (ex 39.09) Aviatik D.ll Berg Dm 225
339.02 — 339.09 Aviatik D.II Berg Dm 225