ZEPPELIN-STAAKEN R.VI

The Staaken R.VI is a German four-engine bomber from the First World War. The plane was designed in response to the Prussian Military Aviation's demand for a bomber with the greatest possible payload and range, capable of attacking targets in Great Britain. The project was developed in 1916 at the plants of Staaken GmBH, belonging to the Zeppelin concern and received the designation R.VI. Only 18 aircraft of this type were built, 9 of which were built at the Zeppelin-Staaken plant, the rest were licensed at the Aviatik (6) and Albatros (3) plants. Structurally, the Staakens are heavily armed biplanes with an integral bomb bay in the fuselage. Almost all members of the seven-person crew had their positions inside the fuselage, with the exception of two on-board engineers who spent the entire duration of the flight in engine nacelles in individual cabins. The high combat value of these huge planes can best be confirmed by the fact that only two of them were lost as a result of enemy action. All other losses were non-combat and were the result of damage during landings; in adventurous terrain. Technical data: length: 22.1 m, wingspan: 42.2 m, height: 6.3 m, maximum speed: 130 km / h, practical ceiling: 3800 m, armament: fixed - 4 LMG 7.92 mm machine guns, suspended -up to 2000 kg of bombs.