DFW C.I

The DFW C.I was a German two‑seat reconnaissance and artillery‑observation aircraft built by Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke (DFW) during the first years of World I. Ordered in early 1915, the type entered service with the Luftstreitkräfte in the spring of 1916, where it replaced older unarmed observation machines and complemented the newer C‑type series that were being introduced in larger numbers. Powered by a 120 hp Mercedes D.II six‑cylinder inline engine, the C.I featured a conventional biplane layout, staggered wings of equal span, and a wooden frame covered with fabric. Its cockpit arrangement placed the pilot forward and the observer behind, the latter equipped with a flexible Parabellum MG 14 machine gun and a basic camera for photographic reconnaissance. The aircraft’s relatively short wingspan of 11.4 m, a maximum speed of 150 km/h and a service ceiling of 4,500 m made it suitable for low‑altitude battlefield spotting, while its simple construction allowed rapid repair at forward airfields. Although quickly outclassed by later C‑type designs, the DFW C.I demonstrated the value of armed reconnaissance, influencing German doctrine and paving the way for more capable two‑seat combat aircraft that dominated the latter part of the war.

DFW

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