Albatros
Albatros W.5
The Albatros W.5 was a German maritime patrol seaplane developed by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke in the final months of World War I. Designed to replace earlier reconnaissance types, the W.5 first flew in March 1918 and entered limited service with the Imperial German Navy’s Naval Air Service in the North Sea and Baltic theaters. The aircraft featured a conventional biplane layout with a wooden frame covered in fabric, a twin‑float undercarriage, and a spacious hull that accommodated a crew of three: pilot, observer, and radio operator. Power was supplied by a single inline Mercedes D.IIIa engine delivering 120 hp, driving a two‑bladed wooden propeller and providing a maximum speed of approximately 160 km/h (99 mph). Its range of 600 km allowed extended patrols, while a modest bomb load of up to 200 kg gave it a modest offensive capability. Although only a few dozen were built before the armistice, the W.5 demonstrated the practical benefits of combining seaplane stability with the aerodynamic efficiency of a biplane, influencing later interwar maritime aircraft such as the Heinkel He 55 and Dornier Do 18. The W.5 remains a noteworthy example of early naval aviation engineering and Albatros’s adaptability beyond its famed fighter lineage.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 5
- First Flight
- 1917