Gotha WD.27
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name=WD.27 |image=Gotha WD.27.jpg |caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |type=Long-range maritime patrol aircraft |national origin=Germany |manufacturer={{lang|de|Gothaer Waggonfabrik}} |designer=Karl Rösner |first flight= |number built=1–3 prototypes }} |
The Gotha WD.27 (for ({{lang|de|Wasser Doppeldecker}} - "Water Biplane")) was a long-range maritime patrol floatplane developed during World War I by {{lang|de|Gothaer Waggonfabrik}} (Gotha) for the Imperial German Navy's ({{lang|de|Kaiserliche Marine}}) Naval Air Service ({{lang|de|Marine-Fliegerabteilung}}). It was a large, four-engine aircraft with the same general layout as the WD.22; a conventional floatplane with engines grouped in tractor-pusher pairs on the lower wings. Three aircraft were ordered in early 1918, but the first prototype was not completed until after the end of the war in November. It may not have flown before it was ordered to be destroyed by the victorious Allies.
Background and description
By late 1916, the vulnerability of the Zeppelins on reconnaissance missions over the North Sea had been recognized by the Naval Air Service and Rear Admiral ({{lang|de|Konteradmiral}}) Otto Philipp, commander of the Naval Air Service, outlined requirements for three types of multi-engine seaplanes to replace the Zeppelins. The highest priority was for a four-engine maritime patrol aircraft with an endurance of 10–12 hours, capable of maintaining altitude on two engines, in a memorandum on 26 December. Philipp clarified on 10 February 1917 that the reconnaissance aircraft's tasks would be mine spotting, anti-submarine duties, and shipping control.Haddow & Grosz, pp. 278–279 The Naval Air Service placed an order for three improved versions of the WD.22 in 1918 to compare them with the very large floatplanes like the Zeppelin-Staaken L.Herris, pp. 90, 95
Designed by Karl Rösner, the WD.27 was a four-bay biplane with a wooden fuselage. In the nose of the aircraft was the forward gunner's position; behind it was the cockpit for the pilot and copilot. In the middle of the fuselage was the wireless compartment which was equipped with a dorsal machine gun position. The wooden wings were hinged outboard of the engine nacelles and could be folded to the rear, which reduced the width of the aircraft to {{convert|10.5|m|ftin}}. The biplane tail structure was built from steel tubing. The tail structure consisted of two each horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilizers fitted with two rudders forming a box shape.Metzmacher, p. 76 The two floats were connected by multiple struts to both the lower wing and the fuselage.Herris, p. 91
The four straight-six, {{convert|175|hp|kW|adj=on|lk=on}} Mercedes D.IIIa engines were mounted back-to-back in two streamlined nacelles located on the lower wing. Each nacelle was provided with a radiator suspended from the upper wing above it. Piping connected the radiator to each engine in the nacelle. The WD.27 could be fitted with a drop tank underneath the fuselage; the total fuel capacity with internal and external tanks was {{convert|1790|l|impgal USgal}}.
History
The first prototype was ready for factory engine tests in December 1918 and was reportedly compete the following month. It is not known if it ever flew or what the status was of the other two prototypes.Herris, p. 90 Gotha's plans to convert the aircraft into an airliner or cargo aircraft were thwarted by the Allies who ordered its destruction.
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Gotha Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes; German Aircraft of the First World War; Gray & Thetford, p. 409 Marine Aircraft of the 1914–1918 WarNowarra, Robertson & Cooksley, p. 56
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|upper span m=34
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|lower span m=31
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|height m=6
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|wing area sqm=197
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|empty weight kg=4700
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|gross weight kg=6860
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|eng1 number=4
|eng1 name=Mercedes D.IIIa
|eng1 type=water-cooled straight-six engines
|eng1 hp=175
|prop blade number=2
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|max speed kmh=135
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|range km=1110
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|time to altitude=15 minutes to {{cvt|1000|m}}
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|guns= 2 x machine guns
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References
{{commons category|Gotha WD.27}}
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last1=Andersson |first1=Lennart |last2=Sanger |first2=Ray |title=Retribution and Recovery: German Aircraft and Aviation 1919 to 1922 |date=2014 |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) |location=Staplefield, UK |isbn=978-0-85130-467-0|name-list-style=amp}}
- {{cite book|author1-last=Gray|author1-first=Peter|title=German Aircraft of the First World War|orig-year=1970|year=1987 |publisher=Putnam |location=London|isbn=0-85177-809-7|edition=2nd|author2-first=Owen|author2-last=Thetford|name-list-style=amp}}
- {{cite book |last1=Haddow |first1=George William |last2=Grosz |first2=Peter Michael |title=The German Giants: The German R-Planes 1914 – 1918 |date=1988 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-85177-812-7 |edition=3rd|name-list-style=amp|orig-year=1962}}
- {{cite book |last1=Herris |first1=Jack |title=Gotha Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes |date=2013 |publisher=Aeronaut Books |location=Charleston, South Carolina |isbn=978-1-935881-14-8|series=Great War Aviation Centennial Series|volume=6}}
- {{cite book |last1=Metzmacher |first1=Andreas |title=Gotha Aircraft 1913–1954: From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter |date=2021 |publisher=Fonthill |location=Brimscombe, UK |isbn=978-1-78155-706-8}}
- {{cite book |last1= Nowarra |first1=Heinz J.|last2=Robertson|first2=Bruce|last3=Cooksley|first3=Peter G. |title=Marine Aircraft of the 1914–1918 War |publisher=Harleyford Publications |location=Letchworth, UK|name-list-style=amp |year=1966|oclc=123198808}}
{{Gotha aircraft}}
Category:1910s German patrol aircraft