AEG
AEG B.III
The AEG B.III was a German two‑seat reconnaissance biplane built by the electrical and aircraft firm AEG during World War I. First flown in early 1916, it was developed from the earlier B.I and B.II models in response to the Imperial German Army’s demand for a more reliable and faster observation platform. Powered by an 100 hp Mercedes D.I inline engine, the B.III achieved a top speed of roughly 115 km/h (71 mph) and a service ceiling of 3,500 m. Its wooden frame, fabric covering, and staggered wings gave it good maneuverability for the low‑level photographic and artillery‑spotting missions it performed on the Western Front. The aircraft featured two open cockpits, a forward‑firing LMG 08/15 machine gun for the pilot, and a flexible Parabellum gun for the observer, providing limited defensive capability. Though quickly superseded by newer C‑type armed reconnaissance types, the B.III served as a training and liaison aircraft until 1918, helping to refine German aerial reconnaissance tactics. Its modest design illustrated the rapid evolution of combat aircraft during the war and contributed to AEG’s later development of more advanced fighters such as the AEG G series.