Rumpler Taube (Etrich Taube)

Imperial Germany (1910)

A variety of builders manufactured the Etrich Taube - though the most famous of these became Rumpler whose aircraft saw combat service in World War 1.

Detailing the development and operational history of the Rumpler Taube (Etrich Taube) Fighter / Light Bomber / Reconnaissance / Trainer Monoplane Aircraft. Entry last updated on 1/7/2018. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

The Austro-Hungarian-originated "Taube" was a single-seat monoplane aircraft whose design was eventually manufactured by a plethora of companies in Europe during the pre-World War 1 period. Design attribution fell to Igo Etrich and it first appeared in 1909 with a first-flight recorded during the following year. As the Etrich patent was allowed to expire, various firms undertook construction of the Taube including Rumpler, Lohner, Aviatik, DFW, Abatros and some of these saw service in World War 1 (1914-1918) as trainers, reconnaissance platforms and - to some extent - fighters / light bombers (though armed only through hand-held / hand-dropped weapons).

The Taube's wings appeared as if modeled after a bird with elegant, curved lines being used but its true form is said to have been taken from the seed of a Javan cucumber. A simple, slab-sided fuselage was used which contained the engine and pilot at the front-most part of the aircraft (a simple two-bladed propeller being utilized). A fixed wheeled undercarriage was used for ground-running. For aerial control, the wings "warped" in flight - a popular quality of early monoplanes. Power was from a Mercedes Typ E4F 4-cylinder water-cooled piston engine developing 86 horsepower. Maximum speed was 62 miles per hour with a range out to 87 miles and a service ceiling of 6,562 feet.

Despite its seemingly fragile appearance, Taube aircraft designs were used in a variety of civilian- and military-roles. Its first combat sortie took place over Libya when an Italian Taube dropped grenades upon an enemy position during 1911. In 1912 there followed combat exposure over the Balkans and, from then on, the series was used as observation and spotter platforms during World War 1 - though soon outclassed by more advanced aerial machines.

Global operators ranged from Argentina and Bulgaria to the Ottoman Empire and Switzerland.

Our Data Modules allow for quick visual reference when comparing a single entry against contemporary designs. Areas covered include general ratings, speed assessments, and relative ranges based on distances between major cities.

Image of collection of graph types

Relative Maximum Speed Rating

Hi: 100mph

Lo: 50mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (62mph).

Graph average of 75 miles-per-hour.

Relative Operational Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Graph showcases the Rumpler 4C Taube 's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.

Aviation Era Impact

Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.

Unit Production Comparison

Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units

Military Market HI**: 36,183 units

120

* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.

** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.

Altitude Visualization

Compare this entry against other aircraft using our Comparison Tool

Supported Mission Types:

Air-to-Air

Interception

Unmanned

Ground Attack

Close-Air Support

Training

Anti-Submarine

Anti-Ship

Airborne Early Warning

MEDEVAC

Electronic Warfare

Maritime/Navy

Aerial Tanker

Utility/Transport

Passenger Industry

VIP Travel

Business Travel

Search/Rescue

Recon/Scouting

Special Forces

X-Plane/Development

National Origin: Imperial Germany

Service Year: 1910

Classification Type: Fighter / Light Bomber / Reconnaissance / Trainer Monoplane Aircraft

Manufacturer(s): Rumpler Flugzeugwerke - Imperial Germany

Production Units: 120

Operational Status: Retired, Out-of-Service

Global Operators:
Argentina; Austria-Hungary; Bulgaria; China; Imperial Germany; Kingdom of Italy; Norway; Ottoman Empire (Turkey); Switzerland

Structural - Crew, Dimensions, and Weights:
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Rumpler 4C Taube model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.

Operational
CREW

Personnel
2

Dimension
LENGTH

Feet
32.48 ft

Meters
9.9 m

Dimension
WIDTH

Feet
46.92 ft

Meters
14.3 m

Dimension
HEIGHT

Feet
10.50 ft

Meters
3.2 m

Weight
EMPTY

Pounds
1,433 lb

Kilograms
650 kg

Weight
LOADED

Pounds
1,874 lb

Kilograms
850 kg

Installed Power - Standard Day Performance:
1 x Mercedes Typ E4F 4-cylinder water-cooled engine developing 86 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.

Performance
SPEED

Miles-per-Hour
62 mph

Kilometers-per-Hour
100 kph

Knots
54 kts

Performance
RANGE

Miles
87 mi

Kilometers
140 km

Nautical Miles
76 nm

Performance
CEILING

Feet
6,562 ft

Meters
2,000 m

Miles
1.24 mi