Aviatik C.III

The Aviatik C.III was a German two‑seat reconnaissance biplane developed by the Aviatik company during the latter part of World War I. First flown in early 1917, the C.III was intended to replace the earlier C.I and C.II types that had proved vulnerable to newer Allied fighters. Powered by the 220 hp Mercedes D.IIIa inline engine, the aircraft achieved a top speed of roughly 170 km/h (106 mph) and a service ceiling of 5,600 m. Its wooden frame, fabric covering, and staggered wings provided a sturdy yet lightweight structure, while the enclosed cockpit for the pilot and an open observer's position equipped with a flexible 7.92 mm machine gun gave it both defensive capability and excellent field of view for artillery spotting. A forward‑firing 7.92 mm Spandau gun was mounted for the pilot. Only a small batch of C.IIIs entered service, primarily on the Western Front, where they performed short‑range photographic missions and battlefield reconnaissance. Although quickly superseded by more powerful designs such as the Rumpler C.VII, the Aviatik C.III illustrated the rapid evolution of German aerial reconnaissance and contributed to the development of dual‑control training aircraft that followed.