L 69

The Albatros L 69 was a single‑seat, low‑wing monoplane developed in Germany during the early 1920s as a follow‑up to the successful L 58 trainer. Designed by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke engineering team under Wilhelm Riehn, the L 69 first flew in March 1923 at Johannisthal. Its wooden frame and fabric covering were typical of the era, but the aircraft incorporated a streamlined, cantilever wing that eliminated the need for external bracing, giving it a cleaner aerodynamic profile. Powered by a 120 hp Argus As III inline engine, the L 69 could reach a top speed of 190 km/h and featured a fully enclosed cockpit with a small windscreen, a rarity for light sport aircraft at that time. The plane was primarily used by Luftsport clubs for aerobatic training and short‑range touring, and a handful were entered in the 1924 International Touring Competition, where they demonstrated superior handling and climb performance. Although only about twenty examples were built before Albatros ceased production in 1926, the L 69’s innovative wing design and modest powerplant contributed to the evolution of German sport aviation, influencing later low‑wing monoplanes such as the BFW M.21.