Albatros D.XII

The Albatros D.XII was one of a series of unsuccessful Albatros fighter designs produced during 1918. It was similar to the D.XI, with a flat sided fuselage, unequal span wings with a shorter wing span on the lower wing and was about the same size and weight as the D.XI. The D.XI used I struts to connect the wings and another set of struts to connect the bottom of the struts to the top of the fuselage. The D.XII reverted to a more conventional layout, with a pair of struts connecting the wings supported by wire bracing.

Two prototypes were built. The first was powered by a 180hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine. It made its first flight in March 1918 and entered the second D class contest of May-June 1918. The second prototype was powered by a 185hp BMW IIIa engine. It made its first flight in April 1918 and entered the third D class contest in October 1918. One of the prototypes was given a Bohme undercarriage (with compressed-air shock absorbers) in April 1918. The D.XII wasn't particularly fast and the type didn't enter production. 

First Prototype
Engine: Mercedes D.IIIa
Power: 180hp
Span: 26ft 10 7/8in
Length: 18ft 11 3/4in
Height: 9ft 2 1/4in
Empty weight: 1,276lb
Loaded weight: 1,672lb
Max speed: 112mph
Climb Rate: 54 minutes to 26,240ft
Endurance: 1 hr
Armament: Two Spandau machine guns

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