Aviatik D.I
editThe Aviatik D.I, also known as Berg D.I or the "Berg Fighter" (due to the fact that it was designed by Oberingenieur Julius von Berg), was the first indigenous fighter aircraft of the Austro-Hungarian Air Service (Luftfahrtruppen).
Work on the prototype began in August 1916, while the first flight of the Aviatik (Berg) DI prototype, marked 30.14, took place at 16th October 1916 at Aspern, unfortunately killing the test pilot.
Further modifications were made, and three more prototypes of the Aviatik (Berg) DI were manufactured, labeled 30.19 (for tests on the ground), 30.20 (for tests in flight) and 30.21 (as a reserve airframe). Tests of the modified aircraft were positive and the first unit to receive the first serial batch of the Aviatik (Berg) DI was Fluggeschwader I (FLG I, later to be renamed to Flik 101G) on the Divacca airfield (Italy).
Variants
editThe Aviatik (Berg) DI was manufactured under license by a numbers of subcontractors.
- Aviatik built the 38, 138.238 and 338 series
- Lohner built the 115 and 315 series
- LLoyd manufactured the 48, 248 and 348 series.
- MAG built the 84 and 92 series
- Thone & Fiala manufactured the 101 and 201 series
- WKF built the 184, 284 and 384 series.
The main differences between the series were the engines (the Aviatik (Berg) used Austro-Daimler engines),structural modifications, gun modifications and radiator modifications. Until the 31st October 1918 a number of 677 Aviatik (Berg) DI airframes of all batches were handed over to the Austro-Hungarian Airforce.
External links/references
editAviatik Berg D.I photos from the Vienna technical Museum
"The Aerodrome" page regarding the Aviatik D.I