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The A.E.G. DJ.I was a single seat armoured ground attack biplane that was still under development at the end of the First World War.
A.E.G. had some experience of ground attack aircraft, having produced the fairly successful two seat A.E.G. J.I earlier in the war. Early in 1918 the company produced the A.E.G. PE, a single seat armoured triplane, but this was rejected by the German air service because its performance as a fighter wasn't considered suitable.
A.E.G. began work on the biplane DJ.I before the PE entered combat. It had much in common with the triplane, including the general shape of the tail, the streamlined cover for the engine. It also shared the advanced construction. The wings were of dural construction with a fabric covering. The fuselage had sheet aluminium covering, and included armour protection for the pilot, engine and fuel tanks.
The DJ.I was a two bay biplane. Instead of the normal combination of interplane struts and bracing wires, it used I-section struts, which reduced drag.
Three prototypes were built. Two used the 195hp Benz Bz IIIb engine and the third used a 240hp Maybach Mb IVa engine. All three were armed with two 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine guns and it could carry anti-personnel bombs on external racks.
The prototypes were competed before the end of the First World War, and the first made its maiden flight in September 1918, but they were still undergoing flight tests at the Armistice.
Engine: Benz Bz IIIb V-8 engine
Power: 195hp
Crew: 1
Span: 32ft 9 3/4in
Length: 21ft 11 1/3in
Height: 9ft 10 1/8in
Empty weight: 2,606lb
Loaded weight: 3,041lb
Max speed: 122mph
Climb Rate: 4min to 3,280ft