Mayrhofer is now building an Albatros D.II

[Olham]

Over at THE AERODROME is a thread about Koloman Mayrhofer building an Albatros D.II.

Mayrhofer had already built an Austrian OeFFAG Albatros D.III.

Damn, it's exciting to see, that we live in times, when they can rebuild these old aircraft

in flying condition even (like the 2 Albatros at THE VINTAGE AVIATOR).

 

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/replica-aircraft/35610-albatros-d-ii-d-iii-news.html

 

 

[Wayfarer]

Thanks for posting this link Olham. By coincidence I just came across Albatros D.IIs in OFF for the first time, January 1917. I love the way the wooden bodies are skinned - even while they are shooting down all my wingmen and forcing me to land behind enemy lines! (I escaped afeter 19 days - phew)!

The pre-V strut Albatros marks never seemed to to be illustrated back when I used to make plastic models and I always find the look of them interesting.

[Olham]

I know, and it's strange - the D.II was a revolution for German fighter development,

but we always only see the D.III and the D.V variants. Well, they are prettier...

[TaillyHo]

Thanks for posting this link Olham. By coincidence I just came across Albatros D.IIs in OFF for the first time, January 1917. I love the way the wooden bodies are skinned - even while they are shooting down all my wingmen and forcing me to land behind enemy lines! (I escaped afeter 19 days - phew)!

The pre-V strut Albatros marks never seemed to to be illustrated back when I used to make plastic models and I always find the look of them interesting.

 

Gee Wayfarer, you've done well to avoid the OFF Albs until Jan 1917! They shoudl've started to appear from mid-Sept. 1916.

Are you flying a R.E8 these days, or still the B.E2 (sorry, I can't recall).

Good luck, in any event!

[Olham]

You're right, TaillyHo - he has managed to miss them for more than three months.

You're a lucky blighter, Wayfarer!

[Wayfarer]

Gee Wayfarer, you've done well to avoid the OFF Albs until Jan 1917! They shoudl've started to appear from mid-Sept. 1916.

Are you flying a R.E8 these days, or still the B.E2 (sorry, I can't recall).

Good luck, in any event!

 

Well I was certainly expecting them then. I had been thinking things were a bit too quiet.

I think it might be a combination of where I am based, the fact that I run my missions at roughly a weekly frequency, and the fact that I try so hard to avoid contact with enemy aircraft.

I am based at Hesdigneul, in Flanders, with RFC 2. Most of the missions I flew between July and October 1916 were somewhat north of the main Somme battlefields. I was not actually engaged by enemy aircraft between the end of June and Boxing Day 1916, when three Halberstadts forced down my newest pilot on his first mission. I thought this might be due to the degree of air superiority the allies established during that period.

I am still flying BE2s at present, but it is pretty hopeless against the newer fighters. I think even the limited field of fire of the observer might be more useful than the fixed forward firing gun.

I am presuming that we get RE8s eventually as they are listed in potential aircraft for the squadron. Until then I suspect it will be a hard spring!

 

Olham, it was lucky. The last poor chap was imprisoned for the duration!

[RAF_Louvert]

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Thanks for posting this Olham, I just keep thinking how much fun it would be to get involved in such a project. It certainly is a fine thing that there is such an avid core of craftsmen devoting their time to this.

 

Wayfarer, you have been very fortunate Sir in your stint with the two-seaters. I hope your good fortune continues right on through to the Armistice.

 

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[Wayfarer]

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Wayfarer, you have been very fortunate Sir in your stint with the two-seaters. I hope your good fortune continues right on through to the Armistice.

 

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Errr ...that was not counting the pilot's lost to AA, or ground fire on low contact patrols in the intervening period!

[RAF_Louvert]

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Aaaah, so it wasn't the same flyer throughout all those months, but rather a reincarnation. Well then, here's hoping he ultimately reaches Nirvana.

 

 

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[Hasse Wind]

Fascinating. I wonder when they'll start building a Gotha?

[Lewie]

Gee Wayfarer, you've done well to avoid the OFF Albs until Jan 1917! They shoudl've started to appear from mid-Sept. 1916.

Are you flying a R.E8 these days, or still the B.E2 (sorry, I can't recall).

Good luck, in any event!

 

Aye, but my RFC 13 'arry Tate pilot has most of his kills with Albie V strutters. The man is a lunatic. He helps out the fighters that are escorting his obs flights.

[Lewie]

Where are they finding the Mercedes engines for these replicas? They've got to be pretty hard to find.

[Olham]

Fascinating. I wonder when they'll start building a Gotha?

I guess those craft wouldn't get a license to fly anymore today.

Takeoff and landing were pretty dangerous and slow.

I only wonder, where the VINTAGE AVIATOR and Mayrhofer have found their engines?

[Lewie]

I guess those craft wouldn't get a license to fly anymore today.

Takeoff and landing were pretty dangerous and slow.

I only wonder, where the VINTAGE AVIATOR and Mayrhofer have found their engines?

 

It would seem the Gotha's big Mercedes DIV 260 hp enegines would be even harder to find, especially in a matching pair. As I recall there's a Belgium Museum that does have some bits and pieces of a Gotha GIV.