Albatros J.II

The Albatros J.II was a two‑seat biplane trainer developed by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke in the late 1910s as an evolution of the earlier J‑type series. First flown in 1918, the aircraft was built primarily for the Imperial German Navy to prepare pilots for the more powerful front‑line fighters that were entering service. Its airframe retained the familiar wooden box‑girder fuselage and fabric‑covered wings of its predecessor, but incorporated a stronger, slightly longer wing span and a reinforced undercarriage to withstand repeated training sorties. Powered by a 120‑horsepower Mercedes D.II six‑cylinder inline engine, the J.II delivered a modest top speed of about 140 km/h and a glide ratio that made stall recovery practice safe and predictable. The cockpit arrangement featured tandem seating with dual controls, allowing instructors to intervene directly. Though only a few dozen were produced before the armistice halted production, the J.II played a crucial role in standardising pilot instruction techniques that later influenced interwar trainer designs. Its straightforward construction and reliable handling earned it a reputation as one of the most effective transitional trainers of the World War I era, bridging the gap between basic flight schooling and combat‑ready aircraft.