Zeppelin C.II

The Zeppelin C.II was a pioneering German reconnaissance aircraft built in 1915 under the direction of the aerodynamic innovator Paul Jaray, whose work on streamlined bodies had already transformed airship design. Although often confused with the larger rigid airships produced by the Zeppelin company, the C.II was a lightweight, single‑engine biplane intended for short‑range scouting and artillery spotting on the Western Front. Its most striking feature was the elliptical fuselage cross‑section, a direct application of Jaray’s wind‑tunnel experiments that reduced drag by approximately 15 % compared with contemporaneous biplanes. The aircraft employed a 120 hp Mercedes D.III inline engine, drove a two‑bladed wooden propeller, and carried a pilot plus observer seated in tandem under a partially glazed canopy. Control surfaces were balanced and equipped with servo tabs, allowing smoother handling at higher speeds. Only a limited batch of 30 airframes was produced before production shifted to the more powerful Zeppelin C.III, but the C.II’s aerodynamic concepts proved influential. Jaray’s design philosophy helped usher in the era of streamlined military aircraft, laying groundwork for the sleek fighters of the inter‑war period and strategic importance.

Paul Jaray

Classification

Design & Classification