The AEG C.III was a prototype two-seat biplane reconnaissance aircraft built by the (AEG) during the First World War for the Imperial German Army's () Imperial German Air Service (). It was derived from the C.II, but with a new fuselage that completely filled the gap between the wings. The upper wing was at the top of the fuselage to give the observer in the front cockpit the best possible field of fire. One or two prototypes were ordered in late 1915, but the C.III never entered into service.
Development
The aircraft featured an unusual fuselage design derived from the C.II that was inspired by that of the Roland C.II where the fuselage filled the gap between the two-bay wings; the upper wing was attached to the fuselage's upper longerons and the lower wing to the lower longerons. The fuselage design was also intended to reduce drag by eliminating the cabane struts that commonly attached the upper wing to the fuselage. This configuration gave the observer the best visibility possible for his 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun because his position in front of the pilot was above the upper wing. The observer could not shoot through the propeller because the C.III did not have interruptor gear installed. It used the same water-cooled Benz Bz.III straight-six piston engine as the C.II.
The first prototype made its first flight in December 1915 and flight testing revealed that the space between the wings was too small and caused interference with the airflow between them. This limited the C.III's performance and impaired its flying qualities. Further development was abandoned. A.E.G. Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes
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General characteristics
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Armament
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