The Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII was a mammoth biplane aircraft design intended as a heavy bomber for the German Air Service during World War 1 (1914-1918). Work began as early as 1916 but progress proved slow and only one airframe was wholly complete by the end of the war - a second example lay partially finished. For its time, the R.VIII was the largest complete aircraft anywhere in the world. The first prototype actually entered ground trials in early 1919 but was undone in by a gearbox failure as well as the restrictions imposed on German war-making capabilities through the Treaty of Versailles. No more work on the type was done.
As completed, the R.VIII showcased a crew of at least eight to manage piloting, engine repairs, and defensive machine gun positions. Its length was 70 feet, 10 inches with a wingspan of 157 feet, 6 inches, and height of 24 feet, 3 inches. Empty weight was listed at 23,100lbs with a gross weight in the vicinity of 35,000lbs. Power was through 6 x Basse und Selve BuS.IVa 6-cylinder, water-cooled, inline piston engines developing 300 horsepower each. The engines were arranged in a unique formation with two as "puller" units and the remaining four as "pusher" units. The actual powerplants resided within the fuselage so as to provide easier access for the in-flight mechanics to which drive shafts managed the externally-mounted propeller units. Performance estimates included a maximum speed of 78 miles per hour with a range of 560 miles and a service ceiling of 13,125 feet.
It can be assumed that, as a military bomber, the R.VIII would have been outfitted with a network of machine guns for local defense. Machine guns were have been perched at the nose, on the dorsal spine aft of the upper wing unit, over the upper wing unit, and at a rear ventral position. Its actual bombload remained unknown though, for its size and deep fuselage, it would have packed quite a load when compared to the largest German Air Service bombers of the war.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
Length
70.9 ft (21.60 m)
Width/Span
157.5 ft (48.00 m)
Height
24.3 ft (7.40 m)
Empty Wgt
23,149 lb (10,500 kg)
MTOW
35,274 lb (16,000 kg)
Wgt Diff
+12,125 lb (+5,500 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII production variant)
Installed:
6 x Basse und Selve BuS.IVa 6-cylinder, water-cooled, inline piston engines developing 300 horsepower each; 2 x Propellers in puller arrangement with 4 x Propellers in pusher arrangement.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Siemens-Schuckert R.VIII production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
PROPOSED:
1 x 7.92mm machine gun in nose position.
1 x 7.92mm machine gun in dorsal spine position.
1 x 7.92mm machine gun in upper wing assembly.
1 x 7.92mm machine gun in ventral position.
OPTIONAL:
Conventional drop bombs of unknown weight.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
R.VIII - Base Series Designation; two aircraft constructed with only one wholly completed.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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German Empire
