Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV

The Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV was an Imperial German bomber of World War I. An incremental improvement to the Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI, this was one of a series of large strategic bombers called Riesenflugzeuge, intended to be less vulnerable than dirigibles in use at the time.

Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV
Role Bomber
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Schütte-Lanz
Designer Graf von Zeppelin
First flight 25 July 1918
Primary user Luftstreitkräfte
Developed from Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV

Development

Almost identical to the R.XIV, the R.XV had a lighter airframe and more refined aerodynamics, in an effort to improve performance. Three aircraft were ordered, (R.46 to R.48), all three being completed by 1 September 1918.[1]

As with most Zeppelin Riesenflugzeuge, the R.XV had two engine pods with four engines in a push-pull configuration, large enough for some inflight maintenance.[2] Additional power was provided by a fifth engine mounted in the nose of the aircraft.[1]

Operational history

At least two of the R.XVs built saw action on the Western Front, late in 1918.[1]

Operators

Specifications (Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV)

Data from The German Giants[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: seven
  • Length: 22.5 m (73 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 42.2 m (138 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 334 m2 (3,600 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 7,921 kg (17,463 lb)
  • Gross weight: 14,450 kg (31,857 lb)
  • Powerplant: 5 × Maybach Mb.IVa 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engines, 183 kW (245 hp) each

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
  • Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)

Armament

Notes
  1. Haddow, G.W.; PeterM Grosz (1988). The German Giants, The Story of the R-planes 1914-1919 (3rd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-812-7.
  2. "Zeppelin-Staaken Is this an R XV". Retrieved September 27, 2010.

References
  • A. K. Rohrbach, “Das 1000-PS Verkehrsflugzeug der Zeppelin-Werke, Staaken,” Zeitschrift für Flugtechnik und Motorluftschiffahrt, vol. 12, no. 1 (15 January 1921);
  • E. Offermann, W. G. Noack, and A. R. Weyl, Riesenflugzeuge, in: Handbuch der Flugzeugkunde (Richard Carl Schmidt & Co., 1927).
  • The German Giants by G.W. Haddow and Peter M. Grosz.
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