A.E.G. C.II from the left, 1915
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The A.E.G. C.II was a more manoeuvrable version of the A.E.G. C.I, with smaller dimensions and a lighter weight than the C.I.
The C.I was an armed version of the A.E.G. B.II unarmed reconnaissance aircraft. It gained a more powerful 150hp engine and carried a flexibly mounted machine gun in the rear cockpit. The engine mounting was as cumbersome looking as on earlier A.E.G. aircraft, with much of the engine visible above the fuselage.
The C.II was designed to be more manoeuvrable than the C.I. It had a similar welded steel tube fuselage, wooden wing ribs and fabric covering as the earlier aircraft, but it was both smaller and 5% lighter. It retained the foldable wings of the earlier aircraft. As a result it was generally more manoeuvrable than the earlier aircraft, and was still a two-bay design.
The C.II appeared in October 1915. It underwent structural tests in February and May 1916, which it struggled to pass. Thirty six were built, and they were transferred to the training service.
The C.II was followed into service by the A.E.G. C.IV, the most numerous of the A.E.G. C series. Many of the improvements introduced on the C.IV were tested out on a C.II, which was progressively redesignated as the C.IIa to C.IIe.
Engine: Benz Bz III
Power: 150hp
Crew: 2
Span: 38ft 10 5/8in
Length: 23ft 3 1/8in
Empty weight: 1,496lb
Loaded weight: 2,640lb
Max speed: 86.25mph