Albatros Dr.II

The Albatros Dr.II, built by the German firm Albatros Flugzeugwerke during the First World War, was a experimental off‑shoot of the successful D.II fighter series. Development began in early 1917 as the company sought a high‑altitude interceptor capable of countering Allied bombers operating above 4,000 metres. By extending the D.II’s wing span, reinforcing the fuselage, and installing a more powerful 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIaü engine with a reduction gear, the Dr.II achieved a markedly better service ceiling and rate of climb. Its armament remained the standard twin Spandau LMG 08/15 pistols, but the aircraft featured a lowered centre‑line of sight and an enlarged cockpit canopy to improve pilot comfort at altitude. Although only a handful of prototypes were constructed and the type never entered mass production, the Dr.II provided valuable data on aerodynamic refinements and high‑altitude engine performance. The lessons learned fed directly into later Albatros models such as the D.Va and the high‑altitude fighter‑reconnaissance types that served until the war’s end. Thus, the Albatros Dr.II occupies a notable niche as a bridge between early biplane fighters and the more specialized aircraft that followed.