AEG C.VII

The AEG C.VII was a German two‑seat reconnaissance and light‑bomber aircraft produced by the electrical‑engineering giant AEG during the final years of World War I. Its development stemmed from the earlier C.VI, with the intention of improving performance while retaining the rugged airframe that had proven reliable on the front. First flown in early 1918, the C.VII entered service with the Luftstreitkräfte in the summer of that year, where it was assigned to artillery‑spotting, photographic reconnaissance, and occasional ground‑attack missions.

Key features included a streamlined wooden fuselage covered in fabric, a 200 hp Mercedes D.IVa six‑cylinder inline engine that gave the aircraft a top speed of roughly 170 km/h (105 mph) and a service ceiling of 5,500 m. The wings were of equal span with a slight dihedral, providing good stability, while a forward‑firing 7.92 mm LMG and a rear flexible machine gun offered defensive firepower. A modest bomb load of up to 120 kg could be carried beneath the wings.

Although only a limited number were built before the armistice, the AEG C.VII demonstrated the evolution of German C‑type designs toward higher speed, better climb rate and greater payload capacity. Its combination of reliable powerplant, robust construction and versatile mission profile contributed to the post‑war understanding of multi‑role aircraft, influencing later reconnaissance and light‑attack concepts in the interwar period.