EAW WW1 Theatre

[rotton50]

Peter,

I put a 1st attempt Sopwith Camel FM in your folder.

I need you to check:

1 - Speed at sea level, 5000 ft and 15000 ft.
2 - Roll rate at full speed at the same heights, both left and right.
3 - Speed in dives where the plane sustains damage.
4 - Take offs. These are hairy so try Taking off with about 1/2 throttle or a bit more, throttle back as the plane veers to the right, correct with ailerons and then SLOWLY add throttle.
5 - Any other parameters you might think are important.

Thanks

Oh, I almost forgot. Turn engine overheat off. It doesn't work properly for WWI planes and since we're past the stage of editing the exec, it's just going to have to be a note to users.

[EdLaz]

R31 and R32 class

The R31-class included two British rigid airships, R31 and R32, built in 1918 with wooden frames due to wartime shortages of duralumin.

• R31 was deployed for naval patrols and convoy escort duties. It was stationed at East Fortune in Scotland but suffered severe water damage while moored in bad weather. The moisture warped its wooden structure, making it unsafe to fly. It was decommissioned and scrapped shortly after the war ended.

• R32had a longer postwar career. It was used for training and experimental missions, including aircraft interception trials and docking experiments. Despite its innovative use, the wooden frame remained vulnerable to environmental damage. R32 was retired and dismantled in the early 1920s.

R31 Class


R32 Class


In case there is interest and not only Germans can have this type of airships.
If there is interest, I can make a small list with images of many other medium and even small airships that were there.

[rotton50]

Right now there's only one model but it is easy to resize it and then reskin it to represent an allied airship.

[Moggy]

Peter,

I put a 1st attempt Sopwith Camel FM in your folder.

Okay Ray, will have a go at this as soon as I can.

[rotton50]

Ok, thanks.

Oh also, I added the Airco DH4 to the mix. Didn't take much because I was able to mix and match previous sections from other models and make relatively minor adjustments.

Fuselage from the SE5a, Prop from the RE8, wings from the Aviatek C2 and tail from the Breguet. Changed the skins a bit and ta-da, another plane.

I'll add it to the Allied planes zip file and upload it along with the German plane models zip tomorrow.

[Moggy]

Excellenr.

[rotton50]

Found a couple of major R/S issues with the first attempt so I had to go back and make some changes.
Here's the Airco DH4:


Also, I found a treasure trove of less well know WWI aircraft including drawings and flight data so once the basics are taken care of I'll continue to work on adding new planes.

I'll upload both new Allied and German plane sets today. Just models for now, no FM's until I hear back from you.

[Moggy]

[EdLaz]

I know of an iconic and interesting airplane that doesn't appear much in the media:

The Etrich Taube

The Etrich Taube was a pioneering monoplane aircraft designed by Austrian engineer Igo Etrich in 1909. Its shape was inspired by the tropical Zanonia seed, which glides naturally through the air. The name “Taube,” meaning “dove” in German, reflected its birdlike appearance, with curved wings and a fan-shaped tail that gave it excellent stability in flight.

The first successful flight took place in 1910. Although Etrich built the initial models, he later transferred production rights to Rumpler, a German manufacturer who mass-produced the aircraft. Other companies like Aviatik, Lohner, and Jeannin also built their own versions. The Taube was constructed from wood and fabric, with a wingspan of about 13 meters, a length of 9 meters, and an empty weight around 500 kilograms. It was powered by engines ranging from 70 to 100 horsepower, such as the Argus As I or Mercedes D.I, reaching speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour and flight durations over an hour.

Flight control was achieved through wing warping, a method used before the invention of ailerons. The fixed landing gear had simple wheels, and the aircraft was known for its excellent stability, though it lacked agility. In 1911, Italian pilot Giulio Gavotti made history by dropping the first aerial bomb from a Taube over Libya, marking the beginning of air warfare. The aircraft was soon adopted by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and even the British Royal Naval Air Service.

At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Taube was deployed for reconnaissance missions, thanks to its steady flight and visibility from above. However, it quickly became outdated as faster and more maneuverable aircraft entered the battlefield.

Photo of the device


Diagram


Paintings




Etrich Taube Variants

1. Etrich Taube
The original design by Igo Etrich, featuring wing warping and a dove-like silhouette. Used mainly for reconnaissance and training.

2. Rumpler Taube
Mass-produced version by Rumpler, the most widely used in Germany. Included structural reinforcements and more powerful engines.

3. Jeannin Stahltaube
A German variant with a steel-tube fuselage, offering greater durability than the original wooden frame.

4. Aviatik Taube
Built by Aviatik with slight modifications to the wing shape and control surfaces for improved handling.

5. Lohner Taube
Produced in Austria-Hungary, closely followed the original Etrich design. Used primarily for training and observation.

6. Albatros Taube
Adapted for light bombing missions, featuring aerodynamic improvements and structural tweaks.

7. Etrich Taube II
A refined version with better flight characteristics and structural updates, used by the Austro-Hungarian military.

8. Doppeltaube
An experimental twin-fuselage version designed for testing purposes. Rare and not widely adopted.

9. Etrich-Rumpler Taube
A transitional model bridging Etrich’s original design and Rumpler’s production line, combining features from both.