AEG N.I

The AEG N.I was a German night‑fighter prototype developed toward the end of World I. Designed by the electrical‑equipment firm AEG (Allgemeine Elektricitäts‑Gesellschaft), the aircraft first flew in early 1918 as part of the Imperial German Army’s effort to counter Allied bombing raids under darkness. Built around a conventional biplane layout, the N.I featured a sturdy wooden frame covered with fabric, a 150 hp Benz Bz.IIIa six‑cylinder inline engine, and a wingspan of 10.2 m. Its most distinctive element was a spacious, fully enclosed cockpit with curtained windows that allowed the pilot to operate instruments and a forward‑facing searchlight while protected from the cold night air. The aircraft carried a pair of forward‑firing LMG 08/15 machine guns synchronized to fire through the propeller, and could also be fitted with upward‑angled, rear‑mounted guns for attacking bombers from below. Although only a handful of prototypes were completed before the Armistice, the AEG N.I demonstrated the practical viability of dedicated night‑fighter concepts, influencing later interwar designs such as the Heinkel He 70 and the early Luftwaffe’s night‑interception squadrons. Its legacy lies in proving that specialized equipment—searchlights, enclosed cockpits, and dual‑gun arrangements—could give defenders a tactical edge after dark.

AEG

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