AGO C

The AGO C was a single‑engine, two‑seat reconnaissance biplane produced by the German firm AGO Flugzeugwerke in the final years of World War I. Development began in early 1917 as a response to the Imperial German Army’s demand for a faster, higher‑altitude observer aircraft capable of both artillery spotting and limited photographic work. The prototype, designated AGO C.I, first flew in March 1918 powered by a 200 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine, driving a two‑blade wooden propeller and driving a conventional pusher‑type radiating cooling system that reduced drag. Its fabric‑covered, equal‑span wings employed a slight stagger and a robust, welded‑steel fuselage, granting a top speed of roughly 170 km/h and a service ceiling of 5,500 m—an improvement over earlier AGO models.

Although only a small batch of around 35 aircraft entered service before the armistice, the AGO C demonstrated innovative structural techniques, notably the use of interchangeable wing panels that simplified field repairs. Post‑war, the type influenced several inter‑war German civil aircraft, as its sturdy construction and reliable powerplant were adapted for early mail and liaison duties. Consequently, the AGO C occupies a modest yet noteworthy place in aviation history, illustrating the rapid evolution of reconnaissance designs at the close of the First World War.