Country of origin:

Germany

Description:

Two-seat reconnaissance fighter

Power Plant:

One 179 kw (240 hp) Maybach Mb.IV six-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

Armament:

One forward firing synchronised Spandau 7.92 mm (0.311 in) machine gun; one ring-mounted Parabellum 7.92 mm (0.311 in) machine gun for observer

History:

The Rumpler C.VIII was developed by Dr Edmund Rumpler from a series of fighters he designed for the German services, stemming from the C.I, C.III, C.IV, early models being known as the Eindecker and the Taube, these being two-seat monoplanes used on reconnaissance flights at the beginning of the war. The Rumpler 4A was a two-seat scouting biplane, this model later being designated B.I. The C.I had a 119 kw (160 hp) Mercedes engine; and the C.Ia had the 134 kw (180 hp) variant of the Mercedes, this model being made available in 1915. The type was known for its good performance and was built and delivered in some numbers to the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War I. The C.III had what was known as a “comma” type rudder and had no fixed fin. The C.IV was popular with crews and was able to perform better than most aircraft above 4,572 m (15,000 ft). When the C.IV became available it combined features of the C.III and C.IV and had a 194 kw (260 hp) engine. Most German aircraft of this time carried the normal forward firing fixed synchronised Spandau machine gun, and a Parabellum machine gun mounted on a ring for operation by the observer.

In late 1917 the C.VII was released to German units, being a biplane fitted with a high-compression Maybach engine of 179 kw (240 hp) and it was used for high-altitude reconnaissance duties, having cameras mounted to operate through a trapdoor in the rear cockpit floor. The ceiling of this model was almost 7,315 m (24,000 ft) and it could achieve 161 km/h (100 mph) at that altitude. The type often was used for “nuisance” type bombing raids carrying four 25 kg (55 lb) bombs on underwing racks. The C.VII was considered the best of all the Rumpler models, being followed by the C.VIII, the C.IX and C.X, the latter two being projected variants not built in any numbers. Variants of the series were also built as seaplanes.

The Rumpler series saw service on a number of fronts, including the Western Front, Palestine, and Italy. It was manufactured by Bayerische Rumpler-Werke and Pfalz Flugzeugwerke. The C.VII was available in two basic models: the long-range reconnaissance model with radio equipment and a normal two-gun armament; and the C.VII (Rubild), which dispensed with the pilot’s machine gun but carried additional photographic equipment and oxygen for the crew, the latter having heated flying suits. The aircraft had a service ceiling of 7,300 m (23,950 ft), which could be reached in 50 minutes. The Rumpler remained in service to the end of hostilities.

The fuselage was of wooden construction with fabric covering, with some metal panelling. The wings were of wooden construction, with ailerons and the tail surfaces were fabric covered steel tube frames.

The Rumpler was regularly met by Australian crews from Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4 Squadrons AFC, particularly on the Western Front and in the Middle East. Well known Australian aviator, Patrick Gordon Taylor, wrote in his book Sopwith Scout 7309 about intercepting a high flying Rumpler whilst flying in a Sopwith Pup. The Rumpler remained in service until the Armistice.

At least two examples were captured by Australian forces and sent to No 2 Aircraft Salvage Depot near London, UK for onward transportation to Australia. Little is known about them but one is said to be serial 993 and is referred to below. A second was a C.VII serial 7927 captured by No 4 Squadron AFC at Bickendorf near Cologne in Germany in 1919, restored to airworthiness, and flown by pilots of the unit. Photographs show it with the Squadron but its ultimate fate is not known.

One Rumpler C.VII (serial unknown – see above) was received by the Australian War Memorial after World War I, along with a number of other captured German aircraft. At this stage it was complete. It is reported to have been test flown at Point Cook, VIC and was fitted with a Maybach engine. Its ultimate fate is not known but it is believed to have been destroyed, along with a number of other World War I aircraft, in a fire in Melbourne, VIC in 1924. At least one Rumpler survives, this being on display at the Brussels Air Museum in Belgium.