OT: Albatros B1 Prototype

[jxeboy]

Hello everyone,

 

As some of you know I've spent the last 5 or so months in Austria, and yesterday in Vienna I visited their military museum. Now I was not expecting too much because Austria isn't much of a military power anymore, but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of pieces they had, and the time-span of it all. There were sections of the museum devoted to 4 different eras. One was the oldest things up until 1740's, then one from 1740's until late 1800's, then there was part covering WWI and another wing covering WWII.

 

While in the WWI part of the museum I was very excited to see what they had. There was a small aviation section right as I entered the door, which had a few small models, and photographs and such things. You see, the way the museum was layed out, and the building it was in, made me completely shocked when I turned the corner and saw a full aircraft sitting there.

 

Upon closer inspection it was an early Albatros prototype. I'm sure some of you guys can tell me more about it, but I thought I'd share some photographs of the exhibit.

 

 

If anyone can't read German, this is what the plaque says:

Unarmed two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, manufactured by the company Albatros Factory G.m.b.H., Berlin Johannisthal.

Arrived the 1st October 1914 to Austria and served as sample for the building of prototypes.

 

I'm sure some of you have maybe seen pictures of this before? But for people who haven't I figured I'd share.

 

P.S. I couldn't use flash photography in the museum, so the pictures aren't as good as I'd hoped they'd be.

 

Anyway here it is!

 

~Jake

[jxeboy]

Here are two of a flightsuit (sorry about glass reflection) and of the plaque.

 

And one last shot of the plane. I hope you enjoy!

[shredward]

Great photos, thanks for showing. With any luck, one day perhaps we'll see them in the air, Over Flanders Fields!

Cheers,

shredward