Rumpler C.X

The Rumpler C.X was a German two‑seat reconnaissance and bomber biplane produced by Rumpler in the final year of World War I. Developed as an evolution of the C.VII, it first flew in early 1918 and entered limited Luftstreitkräfte service that summer. Its airframe kept the conventional biplane layout but featured a longer, streamlined fuselage and larger wing area, giving a higher ceiling and better stability at altitude. Power came from a 260 hp Maybach Mb.IVa six‑cylinder water‑cooled engine, allowing a top speed of about 200 km/h and a service ceiling above 6,500 m—exceptional for the period. The aircraft carried a pilot and an observer with a flexible Parabellum MG14 machine gun and could transport up to 200 kg of bombs for tactical strikes. Although only a few dozen were built before the Armistice, the C.X demonstrated the potential of high‑altitude, long‑range observation platforms and influenced post‑war German designs such as the later Messerschmitt Bf 109’s high‑altitude concepts. Its blend of speed, ceiling and payload made the Rumpler C.X a notable milestone in the shift from early scouts to more capable multi‑role combat aircraft. It remains a subject of interest for historians studying late‑war German aviation.

Rumpler

Classification

Dimensions

Performance

Production & History

Design & Classification