Rumpler 4B11

The Rumpler 4B11, produced by the German firm Rumpler during the late 1920s, was a pioneering single‑engine biplane that bridged the gap between wartime trainers and early civilian sport aircraft. First flown in 1927, the 4B11 emerged from Rumpler’s extensive experience designing reconnaissance planes in World War I, incorporating a more refined aerodynamic profile and a lightweight, steel‑tube fuselage. Powered by a 120‑horsepower Argus As III inline engine, the aircraft achieved a top speed of 170 km/h (105 mph) and a service ceiling of 4,500 m, impressive figures for its class. Its two‑seat configuration, equipped with dual controls and a spacious cockpit, made it popular with flying clubs and aero‑schools throughout Germany and neighboring countries. The 4B11’s wooden wing construction featured staggered wings and a simple, robust aileron system, providing stable handling and short‑field capability. Though only a few hundred were built, the type played a vital role in reviving German civil aviation after the Treaty of Versailles restrictions, mentoring a generation of pilots and influencing later designs such as the Rumpler Taube‑B. Today, preserved examples in museums illustrate the transition from military to recreational flight in interwar Europe.

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