AEG G.IV

AEG G.IV

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AEG G.IV

AEG G.IV (wartime photo)
Role	Bomber aircraft
Manufacturer	Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (A.E.G.)
First flight	1916
Introduced	1916
Retired	1918
Primary user	German Air Force
Number built	320
Developed from	AEG G.III

The AEG G.IV was a biplane bomber aircraft used in the World War I by Germany. It was developed from the AEG G.III, with refinements to power, bomb-load, and dimensions. Serving late in the war, the AEG G.IV managed to achieve some operational success in reconnaissance and combat roles. Coming into service in late 1916, it featured a bomb capacity twice as large as that of the AEG G.II, but was still considered inadequate in terms of offensive capacity and performance. Further improvements led to the development of the G.V, but the Armistice came before the replacement could become operational.

Design and development

The Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (A.E.G.) G.IV was derived from the earlier G.III. Designed as a tactical bomber, the relatively modern technology included onboard radios and electrically heated suits for the crew. The AEG G.IV also had a quality that endeared it to the men who flew it – it was an extremely rugged aircraft. Unlike the other German bombers such as the Gotha and the Friedrichshafen, the AEG featured an all metal, welded tube frame. Well equipped with armament, although the rear gunner’s cockpit was on the top of the fuselage, the position was equipped with a hinged window in the floor for viewing and fending off pursuing aircraft.

The AEG G.IV medium bomber was converted into an armored, antitank gunship, the G.IVk (Kanoe). It never saw service.

Operational history

The AEG G.IV bomber entered service with the German Air Force in late 1916. Because of its relatively short range, the G.IV served mainly as a tactical bomber, operating close to the front lines. The G.IV flew both day and night operations in France, Romania, Greece and Italy, but, as the war progressed, the AEG G.IV was restricted increasingly to night missions. Many night operations were considered nuisance raids with no specific targets, but with the intention of disrupting enemy activity at night and perhaps doing some collateral damage.

The AEG G.IV carried a warload of 400 kg (880 lb). While Gotha crews struggled to keep their heavy aircraft aloft, the AEG was renowned as an easy machine to fly. Some G.IV crews of Kampfgeschwader 4 are known to have flown up to seven combat missions a night on the Italian front. A notable mission involved Hauptmann Hermann Kohl attacking the railroad sheds in Padua, Italy in his G.IV bomber.

A single example is preserved at the Canada Aviation Museum. This example is significant not only as the only one of its kind in existence, but as the only preserved German, twin-engined combat aircraft from World War I.

Variants

AEG G.IV - tactical bomber
AEG G.IVg - with an increased span three-bay wing.
AEG G.IVk - ground-attack aircraft fitted with two 20 mm Becker cannons

Operators

German Empire

Specifications (AEG G.IV)

Data from German Aircraft of the First World War

General characteristics

Crew: Three
Length: 9.70 m (31 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 18.40 m (60 ft 4.25 in)
Height: 3.90 m (12 ft 9⅝ in)
Wing area: 67 m² (675 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,280 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,630 kg (7,986 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,628 kg (8,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Mercedes D.IVa 6-cylinder water cooled inline engine, 194 kW (260 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 166 km/h (90 kn, 103 mph)
Range: 750 km (406 nmi, 467 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,760 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.30 m/s (649 ft/min)
Wing loading: 54.2 kg/m² (11.8 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 98.6 W/kg (0.0601 hp/lb)
Endurance: 4-5 hr cruise
Climb to 1000 m (3,280 ft): 5 min

Armament

2 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns
400 kg (880 lb) of bombs

External links

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Published in July 2009.

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