Aviatik C.V

The Aviatik C.V was a late‑war two‑seat reconnaissance and light‑bomber aircraft produced by the German firm Aviatik in 1917‑1918. Developed from the earlier C.III, it incorporated a more powerful 220 hp Mercedes D.IVa straight‑six engine, which raised its maximum speed to roughly 180 km/h and gave it an operational ceiling near 6 000 m. The airframe retained the conventional biplane layout with wooden spars and fabric covering, but featured an enlarged, rounded fuselage that improved crew comfort and visibility. Its wings employed a slight dihedral and a refined aileron system that reduced control forces, while the fixed, split‑type landing gear was reinforced for rough front‑line airfields. Equipped with a forward‑firing 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine gun and a rear flexible Parabellum MG14, the C.V could also carry up to 150 kg of small bombs for tactical strikes. Though introduced only months before the armistice, the aircraft demonstrated the potential of purpose‑built two‑seat designs that combined reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and limited ground‑attack capabilities. It helped shape post‑war biplane concepts and remains a notable example of the rapid aeronautical development achieved during the final phase of World War I.

Aviatik

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