Albatros fighter aircraft: books - history and technology

Albatros Aircraft of WW I (Volume 1) - Early Two-Seaters

This book describes and illustrates the development of early Albatros two-seaters of WWI through the C.IV with text, 444 photos, 56 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications.
In addition, three aircraft are illustrated in scale drawings to 1/72 scale.

Albatros Aircraft of WW I (Volume 2) - Late Two-Seaters

This book describes and illustrates the development of later Albatros two-seaters of WWI with text, 359 photos, 48 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications.
In addition, five aircraft are illustrated in scale drawings to 1/48 scale done for this book.

Albatros Aircraft of WW I (Volume 3) - Bombers, Seaplanes, J-Types

This book describes and illustrates the development of Albatros bombers, seaplanes, and J-Types, of WWI with text, 188 photos, 34 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications.
In addition, 6 aircraft are illustrated in scale drawings.

Albatros Aircraft of WW I (Volume 4) - Fighters

This book describes and illustrates the development of Albatros fighters of WWI with text, 316 photos, 125 color profiles, 22 color plan views, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications.
In addition, 10 aircraft are illustrated in 1/48 scale drawings.

Albatros D.I-D.II (Osprey)

In 1916 German aerial domination had been lost to the French and British fighters. German fighter pilots requested an aircraft that was more powerful and more heavily armed, and the Albatros design bureau set to work on what was to become an iconic aircraft design. By April 1916, they had developed the Albatros D.I, that featured the usual Albatros semi-monocoque wooden construction with a 160hp Mercedes engine and two forward-firing machine guns.
Alongside the development of the D.I, Albatros had also designed and built a second machine that was similar to the D.I - the Albatros D.II. Although there were several external differences between the two aircraft, it is important to note that these machines evolved simultaneously and that the D.II was not the result of post-combat feedback from D.I pilots.
With the inclusion of these aircraft into their reorganized air force, Germany was able to regain control of the skies by autumn 1916. Along with the later designs they inspired, the Albatros D.I and D.II were instrumental in allowing the Germans to prosecute their domination through 'Bloody April' and well into the summer months that followed.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Technical Specifications and Variants - Operational History - Conclusion - Bibliography and Further Reading.

Albatros D-II - Germany's Legendary World War I Fighter

Describes the history and use of the Albatros D-II, Germany's legendary World War I fighter plane.

Albatros D.III - Johannisthal, OAW, and Oeffag Variants (Osprey)

In 1916 German aerial domination, once held sway by rotary-engined Fokker and Pfalz E-type wing-warping monoplanes, had been lost to the more nimble French Nieuports and British DH 2s which not only out-flew the German fighters but were present in greater numbers.
Born-from-experience calls from German fighter pilots requested that, rather than compete with the maneuverability of these adversaries, new single-engine machines should be equipped with higher horsepower engines and armed with two rather than the then-standard single machine gun.
The Robert Thelen-led Albatros design bureau set to work on what became the Albatros D.I and D.II and by April 1916, they had developed a sleek yet rugged machine that featured the usual Albatros semi-monocoque wooden construction and employed a 160hp Mercedes D.III engine with power enough to equip the aeroplane with two forward-firing machine guns. In all, 500 D.IIIs and 840 D.III(OAW)s were produced and saw heavy service throughout 1917.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Technical Specifications and Variants - Operational History - Conclusion.