Part 5: World War I Exhibits

Hi Everyone..!!

Hope you have enjoyed seeing the different space exhibits at the museum of flights.
In case you have missed it, This is the link : Space Exhibits

For World War II Exhibits :  World War II

1. Albatros D.Va (L24)

 2. Aviatik (Berg) D.I
            The Austro-Hungarian branch of the German Aviatik company produced "B-type" reconnaissance biplanes in the early years of the war. In 1917, the firm's designer, Julius von Berg, created a two-seater C.I and a single seat D.I fighter. The D.I, often known as the "Berg Scout," was the first Austrian-designed fighter plane ever built.

Berg incorporated some interesting traits into his strange-looking airplane. When two side radiators on some of the early Aviatiks weren't getting the job done, the large car-type unit was built into the nose. And the plane's fuselage was constructed quite narrow and deep, with the pilot sitting high in his seat. With the pilot's eyes just below the level of the top wing, the Aviatik offered good visibility in most directions. 

The Museum of Flight's Aviatik is an extremely rare original. Part of series 101, the fighter was built by Thöne and Fiala, in Vienna -- one of five manufactures that made the aircraft during the war. After the plane was located and purchased in Europe by Art Williams, it was discovered that it had been, at one time, operated by the Berg Company and owned by the Berg estate.

3. Caproni Ca.20

The World's First Fighter Plane

The Caproni Ca.20 was an aircraft ahead of its time in design, purpose, and armament. In early 1914, before World War I, this speedy single-seat monoplane was created and equipped with a forward-facing machine gun mounted above the propeller arc. Considered the world's first fighter plane, the Ca.20's pilot could aim the overhead .303-caliber Lewis machine gun at enemy aircraft via false sight at eye level.

Test flights proved that the Ca.20 was an exceptional airplane -- much faster than other military airplanes being made in France and Germany. Yet the Italian military wanted the Caproni Company to focus on heavy bombers and only this single Ca.20 was ever produced.

4. Curtiss JN-4D Jenny

The Jenny is one of America's most famous airplanes. Early versions of the Curtiss biplane were serving the U.S. Army before America's entry into World War I, flying in Mexico on the trail of Pancho Villa in 1916.

The JN-4 version was an extremely popular trainer plane. Scores of American and other Allied pilots learned the skills they would need to "fight the Hun" in this cantankerous training ship. Unable to keep up with the demand for Jennys on their own, the Curtiss design was produced by six other manufacturers.

5. Fokker D.VII

Most experts agree that the Fokker D.VII was the finest single-seat fighter plane of the war. Designed by Reinhold Platz, the prototype was called the VII and was test-flown in a design competition by a number of notable German airmen, including Manfred von Richthofen in January of 1918.

The famous ace found the fighter easy to fly, steady, and sturdy. His recommendation to put the plane into production virtually decided the competition. The Fokker D.VII went into production at many factories, including the Fokker, Albatros, and A.E.G. companies and by late April of 1918, the first D.VIIs arrived to waiting combat units. In July, there were 407 of the type in service and by November the number had climbed to 775. Pilots found that the Fokker had good visibility and was solid, excellent ship to fly. Airmen commented that a Fokker D.VII could make a mediocre pilot into a good one, and a good pilot could become a legend.

6. Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a 

One of the best Allied fighters of World War I, the S.E.5 was considered fast, strong, and simple to fly. Flyers who commonly had nothing good to say about the designs of the Royal Aircraft Factory, had to admit that the S.E. was pleasantly different.

7. SPAD XIII (S.13)

The XIII was designed in late 1916 to counter the twin-gun German fighters appearing over the front. The SPAD XIII had a powerful Hispano-Suiza engine and two proven Vickers machine guns. By the middle of 1917, the SPADs were arriving at French combat squadrons and by early 1918, they had become the standard single-seat fighter for France. After the experiencing the characteristics of their delicate Nieuports, French pilots couldn't help but notice that their new SPADs were solid as rocks. The SPAD had other rock-like features too -- they were slow climbers and not particularly maneuverable. But, at least, they could dive away from most German fighters with ease.

For World War II Exhibits :  World War II