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Gotha WD.8/WD.28

Страна: Германия

Год: 1916

Gotha - WD.7 - 1916 - Германия<– –>Gotha - G.V - 1917 - Германия


O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)


Gotha WD 8
   This machine, built in December 1915, was virtually a single-engined version of the WD 7, the same wing cellule, float chassis and tail assembly being used. It was intended for armed reconnaissance, but only a single example (No. 476) was produced. Engine, 240 h.p. Maybach Mb IV. Span, 160 m. (52 ft. 6 in.). Length, 11.2 m. (36 ft. 9 in.). Area, 59 sq.m. (637 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,250 kg. (2,750 lb.). Loaded. 1,770 kg. (3,894 lb.). Speed, 130 km.hr. (81.25 m.p.h.). Ceiling, 4,500 m. (14,760 ft.). Armament, one manually operated Parabellum machine-gun in rear cockpit.


J.Herris Gotha Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 6)


Gotha WD8

   The Gotha WD8, Marine Number 476, was ordered on 22 July 1915. Designed by Karl Rosner and A. Klaube and powered by a single 240 hp Maybach Mb.IVa, it was ordered as a "comparison aircraft" for the twin-engined WD7 which had the same horsepower. The WD8 used the same wing cellule, tail assembly, and floats as the WD7, and was armed with both a fixed, forward-firing machine gun and a flexible rear machine gun for the observer.
   Delivered on 9 February 1916, the WD8 was assigned to Flandern I at Zeebrugge, where it arrived on 23 April 1916. On operations the WD8 was reported as "totally unsuitable" owing to sluggish maneuverability, insufficient fuel capacity, and a poor field of fire due to the twin rudders. On July 28 the commander of the Seeflugstation Zeebrugge requested that the WD8 be withdrawn from front line service. The WD8 was shipped to Turkey by rail on 21 September 1916, and apparently arrived on 31 October. Only one WD8 was built.

Gotha WD8 Specifications
Engine: 240 hp Maybach Mb.IVa
Wing: Span Upper 16.00 m
Span Lower 14.80 m
Area 55.5 m2
General: Length 11.20 m
Height 4.10 m
Empty Weight 1254 kg
Loaded Weight 1778 kg
Maximum Speed: 138 km/h
Climb: 1000m 6.5 min
2500m 25 min
Service Ceiling: 4500 m
Range: 480 km


Gotha WD28

   In July 1918 Gotha received a contract to build four WD28 seaplane prototypes, Marine Numbers 4001-4003 and 4034, based on the WD8 design. Powered by a 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa engine, the first two prototypes were configured as reconnaissance aircraft with wireless equipment and the last two were equipped to carry bombs. The first two prototypes were nearly complete when work was stopped in January 1919. No photographs appear to have survived.


Gotha Seaplane Production Summary
Type Ordered Marine Numbers Remarks
WD8 1 476 Assigned to Zeebrugge, then sent to Turkey

J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Gotha WD8 Marine Number 476 afloat in the Gotha factory pond. The WD8 used the same wing cellule, tail surfaces, and floats as the WD7 and was built as a comparison aircraft to the WD7 because both aircraft had the same power. Confusingly, the wrong Marine Number was painted on the floatplane when these photos were taken, a mistake later corrected.
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Front view of Gotha WD8 Marine Number 476 in the Gotha factory pond. The sole WD8 was assigned to Zeebrugge, where it was judged "totally unsuitable" for operations due to sluggish maneuverability, a poor field of fire for the rear gunner due to the large, complex tail surfaces, and insufficient fuel capacity. After a few months of operations the commander of Seeflugstation Zeebrugge requested the WD8 be removed from front-line service.
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
Side view of Gotha WD8 Marine Number 476 afloat in the Gotha factory pond. The wrong Marine Number was painted on the WD8 when these photos were taken. With the same total engine power as the WD7 had from two engines, the WD8 was 10 kmh faster due to lower drag.
C.Owers - Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI. Volume 2 - Biplane Seaplanes /Centennial Perspective/ (18)
MN 646, the first GW of the second production batch. Gotha WD8 MN 476 in background.
J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)