| C.VII | |
|---|---|
The third prototype C.VII with the swept wing | |
| General information | |
| Type | Reconnaissance aircraft |
| National origin | German Empire |
| Manufacturer | Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| First flight | December 1916 |
| Developed from | AEG C.IV |

TheAEG C.VII was aprototype two-seatbiplanereconnaissance aircraft built by theAllgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG) during theFirst World War for theImperial German Army's (Deutsches Heer)Imperial German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte). It was developed from theC.IV but did not enter production. The C.VII was tested with two different wing arrangements, one with straight wings and another with a swept upper wing.
The C.VII had been developed to the Inspectorate of Flying Troops (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen (Idflieg)'s requirement for a new type of two-seat aircraft, smaller than the existing C-type aircraft. These were to be used to equip protection flights (Schutzstaffeln) to escort reconnaissance aircraft.[1] Three prototypes were ordered in October 1916 with the first aircraft completed in December. They were scaled down about 20 percent from the C.IV and the C.VII hadsingle-bay wings. The two aircraft shared the same water-cooled 160-horsepower (120 kW)Mercedes D.IIIstraight-six piston engine and the armament of one fixed, forward-firing machine gun and another on a flexible mount for theobserver. The C.VII was about 20 kilometers per hour (12 mph) faster than the C.IV and had a better rate of climb. The first two prototypes had upper wings with straightleading edges, but the third had a swept wing that was intended to improve the gunner's visibility.[2]
Fight testing was conducted in early 1917;Idflieg's report of 30 April damned the C.VII with faint praise, saying that its performance was acceptable, but was not as good as expected. It was judged suitable for service on the less demandingEastern Front and inferior to the submissions byHannoversche Waggonfabrik andHalberstädter Flugzeugwerke.[3]
Data from German Aircraft of the First World War;[4] A.E.G. Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Related lists