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Description
When originally conceived, the French SPAD VII and German Albatros D II represented steps away from an emphasis on maneuver in aerial combat in favor of speed and durability - factors that came into play in hit-and-run tactics. At the end of 1916, however, Albatros tried to have the best of both worlds by incorporating the sesquiplane wing of the nimble Nieuport 17 into its D III. The result combined the better downward view and maneuverability of the Nieuport with the power and twin machine guns of the Albatros D II, but at a high price - a disturbing tendency for the single-spar lower wing to fail in a dive.
While Albatros (and the Austrian Oeffag firm, which built the fighter under license) sought to alleviate that weakness with various reinforcing measures, the Germans developed tactics to maximize the D III's strengths and minimize its shortcomings. At the same time, the French worked to improve the SPAD VII with more power and a more reliable cooling system before moving on to the twin-gunned SPAD XIII. While all that was going on, the Albatros D III became a mainstay of the German and Austro-Hungarian air services in frequent encounters with SPAD VIIs flown by French, Belgian, British, Italian and American airmen.
Table of Contents
Product details
Published | Apr 19 2011 |
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Format | Paperback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 80 |
ISBN | 9781849084758 |
Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
Illustrations | 51 b/w |
Dimensions | 248 x 184 mm |
Series | Duel |
Short code | DUE 36 |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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As with all Duel volumes, this one features helpful maps, rare photos and superb artwork. Five Stars.
Barrett Tillman, The Aerodrome
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Authoritatively researched, documented, and presented... Students of Albatrosen or SPADs in particular, and WWI air combat in general should be thrilled by this book.
Frederick Boucher, AeroScale
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...this 80-page work contains all that most readers would ever want to know about comparing these two fabled fighters.
Peter Kilduff, Between the Bookends

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