| G.VIII, GL.VIII, G.IX, and G.X | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Bomber |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Gothaer Waggonfabrik |
| First flight | 1918 |
| Primary users | Luftstreitkräfte Belgian Air Force |
| Number built | c. 90 (mainly G.IX) |
The Gotha G.VIII, GL.VIII, G.IX, and G.X were a family of bomber aircraft produced in Germany during the final months of World War I. Based on the Gotha G.VII, they were intended as high-speed tactical bombers featuring advanced streamlining for their day.
G.VIII and G.IX
The G.VIII designation was applied to a single machine developed from the G.VII, with a wingspan extended to 21.73 m (71 ft 3 in) and a revised fuselage. A wing cellule was extended by adding an extra half-bay into it. While no further production ensued, the fuselage modifications were retained on the definitive G.IX. This latter design replaced the new half-bays in the wing cellule with full bays, now bringing the span to 25.26 m (82 ft 11 in). The Idflieg ordered 170 G.IXs from Luft Verkehrs Gesellschaft (LVG) to replace the Gotha G.Vs still in front-line service with Boghol 3. Probably around half of this number were completed before the end of the war, with at least some of them reaching operational status by that time. Following the war, captured examples served for a short time with the Belgian Air Force.
GL.VIII
The GL.VIII was a lightweight version of the G.VIII with a compound tail assembly and auxiliary struts supporting the upper mainplane wing-tips.
G.X
The G.X was a final variant in the series, intended to be powered by the BMW IIIa, a far less powerful engine than the Maybach Mb IVa used in the G.IX and previous designs. This variant may have been intended as a pure reconnaissance or training aircraft, and it is unclear whether any were built before the armistice.
Specifications (G.IX)
General characteristics
- Crew: Three
- Length: 9.79 m (32 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 25.26 m (82 ft 11 in)
- Height: 3.54 m (11 ft 7 in)
- Powerplant: 2 × Maybach Mb IVa , 180 kW (245 hp) each
References
- Herris, Jack (2013). Gotha Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 6. Charleston, South Carolina: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-14-8.
- Metzmacher, Andreas (2021). Gotha Aircraft 1913-1954: From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter. Brimscombe, Stroud: Fonthill. ISBN 978-1-78155-706-8.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 427.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 895 Sheet 08.