Kondor D 2

The Kondor D 2 was a German single seat, biplane fighter aircraft designed and built close to the end of World War I.

D 2
Role Fighter aircraft
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Kondor Flugzeugwerke, Essen
Designer Walter Rethel
First flight May 1918
Status prototype only
Number built 2
Developed from Kondor D 1

Design and development

The Kondor D 2 was a basically a redesign of the D 1, which had proven underpowered in flight tests. Like the D 1, the D 2 was a single-seat biplane of wooden construction, powered by an 110 hp (82 kW) Oberursel Ur.II rotary engine and armed with two 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns. However, the D 2 differed from its predecessor in having equal span wings with a two-spar lower wing with parallel inter-plane struts. The first flight of the Kondor D 2 took place in May 1918, in time for the second D-type competition at Aldershof in June 1918. Oberleutnant Hermann Göring praised the aircraft's flying qualities, but criticised the poor performance, consequently the D 2 was not ordered into production.[1]

Confusion reigned after the competition, up to the present day, because the Idflieg referred to the two D 2 prototypes as the D.I and D.II during the competition, which were actually fictitious designations.[1]

The first D 2 prototype had ailerons on the upper wings, while the second D 2 prototype had ailerons on both upper and lower wings.[2]

Specifications (D 2)

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 4.87 m (16 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 7.59 m (24 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 13.34 m2 (143.6 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 380 kg (838 lb)
  • Gross weight: 560 kg (1,235 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Oberursel Ur.II 9-cylinder, air-cooled rotary engine, 82 kW (110 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 175 km/h (109 mph, 94 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
  • Endurance: 1.5 hours
  • Time to altitude: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 10 minutes 24 seconds

Armament

  • Guns: 2 x fixed forward firing synchronised 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns

References

  1. Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander. p. 322. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.
  2. Stemp, P. D. Kites, birds & stuff - aircraft of germany - i tom. Lulu Com. p. 808. ISBN 978-1291292695.


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