Gotha G.V

__NOTOC__ infobox Aircraft
name = Gotha G.V
type = Bomber
manufacturer = Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG



caption =
designer = Hans Burkhard
first flight = 1917
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = "Luftstreitkräfte"
more users =
produced = 1917 to 1918
number built =
unit cost =
variants with their own articles =

The Gotha G.V was a heavy bomber used by the "Luftstreitkräfte" (Imperial German Air Service) during the First World War.

Operational use of the G.IV demonstrated that the incorporation of the fuel tanks into the engine nacelles was problematic. In a crash landing, the tanks could rupture and spill fuel onto the hot engines. This posed a serious problem because landing accidents constituted 75 percent of all operational losses. In response, Gothaer produced the G.V, which housed its fuel tanks in the center of the fuselage. The smaller engine nacelles were mounted on struts above the lower wing.

The G.V entered service in August 1917. It offered no performance improvement over the G.IV. Indeed, the G.V was up to 450 kg (992 lb) heavier than the G.IV due to additional equipment and the use of insufficiently seasoned timber. Furthermore, inferior quality fuel prevented the Mercedes D.IVa engines from producing the rated 260 hp. For these reasons, the G.V generally operated at much lower altitudes than the G.IV.

In February 1918, Gothaer tested a compound tail unit with biplane horizontal stabilizers and twin rudders. The new tail unit, known as the "Kastensteuerung", improved the aircraft's marginal directional control in single-engine conditions. The resulting G.Va subvariant incorporated the new tail as well as a slightly shorter forward fuselage with an auxiliary nose landing gear. All 25 G.Va aircraft were delivered to "Bogohl" 3, the new designation for the former "Kagohl" 3.

The G.Va was replaced in production by the G.Vb, which carried an increased payload and operated at a maximum takeoff weight of 4,550 kg (10,031 lb). To reduce the danger of flipping over during landing, Gothaer introduced the "Stossfahrgestell" ("shock landing gear"), a tandem two-bogie main landing gear. The "Stossfahrgestell" proved so effective, it was retrofitted to all G.V aircraft serving with "Bogohl" 3. Some G.Vb aircraft also had Flettner servo tabs on the ailerons to reduce control forces.

"Idflieg" ordered 80 G.Vb aircraft, the first being delivered to "Bogohl" 3 in June 1918. By the Armistice, all 80 aircraft had been completed, but the last batch did not reach the front and was instead delivered directly from the factory to the Allied special commission.

Operators

;flag|German Empire
*"Luftstreitkräfte"

pecifications (Gotha G.V)

Aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=3
length main=12.42 m
length alt=40 ft 8 in
span main=23.70 m
span alt=77 ft 9 in
height main=4.5 m
height alt=14 ft
area main=89.5 m²
area alt=963.6 ft²
empty weight main=2,739 kg
empty weight alt=6,039 lb
max takeoff weight main=3,967 kg
max takeoff weight alt=8,745 lb
more general=
engine (prop)=Mercedes D.IVa
type of prop=inline engine
number of props=2
power main=260 hp
power alt=191 kW
max speed main=140 km/h
max speed alt=87 mph
range main=840 km
range alt=522 miles
ceiling main=6,500 m
ceiling alt=21,325 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=2 or 3 x 7.92 mm Parabellum LMG 14 machine guns

ee also

aircontent
sequence=

similar aircraft=
*AEG G.I, AEG G.II, AEG G.III, AEG G.IV, AEG G.V
*Friedrichshafen G.I, G.II, G.III, G.IV
*Handley Page Type O

lists=
* List of military aircraft of Germany
* List of bomber aircraft
see also=
Gotha Raids

References

* The Complete Encyclopedia of Flight 1848-1939 by John Batchelor and Malcolm V. Lowe

External links

* [http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/tgenth/gotha/GothaGIVe.htm Page with several photographs]