AEG B.II

The AEG B.II was a German two‑seat reconnaissance biplane built by the Allgemeine Elektricitäts‑Gesellschaft (AEG) during the First World War. First flown in early 1915, it was an evolution of the earlier B.I model, incorporating a stronger wooden frame, larger wingspan and a more reliable Mercedes D.II six‑cylinder inline engine delivering about 120 horsepower. The aircraft featured open cockpits arranged in tandem, a fixed two‑axle landing gear with a rubber‑shock absorber, and a simple yet robust control system that gave pilots stable handling at low altitudes. Its primary role was photographic and visual intelligence gathering over the Western Front, where its relatively quiet engine and respectable endurance of four hours made it valuable for long‑range missions. Although unarmed in its initial configuration, later versions received a single flexible machine gun for defensive purposes. The B.II demonstrated the rapid maturation of German aeronautical engineering, bridging the gap between primitive scouts and later armed two‑seat fighters. Its production numbers, exceeding 300 airframes, helped establish AEG as a key aircraft manufacturer and contributed to the development of tactical aerial reconnaissance that shaped modern air‑power doctrine.

AEG

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