Allgemeine Elektricitats-Gesellschaft AG (AEG) of the German Empire attempted an earlier aircraft design for the armored ground attack role as the AEG "PE" ("Panzer-Einsitzer"). While that triplane was shown to possess poor one-on-one fighter capabilities and was ultimately abandoned during development, the company persisted with the idea of an armored attacker. In September of 1918, it unveiled the DJ.I through a first-flight.
The DJ.I continued some of the form and function established by the PE but attempted to resolve issues by relying on a simplified biplane wing arrangement. The upper and lower members were joined by thick single "I-style" struts and cabling was minimized. Dural construction made up the wing's internal structure and fabric skinning covered them. Because of the low-altitude operation expected of such attacking types (and thus the inherent dangers from ground-based fire), the aircraft was finished with armoring (sheet aluminum skinning) protecting vital components: pilot, fuel stores, and engine.
The first of three prototypes carried the Benz Bz.IIIb engine of 195 horsepower while the third was issued the Maybach Mb IVa engine of 240 horsepower. In either case the engine was installed at the nose in the traditional fashion used to drive a four-bladed propeller. The pilot sat in an open-air cockpit just aft of the upper wing assembly with a commanding view over the aircraft.
Like many other mid-to-late-war biplane fighter types, the DJ.I was outfitted with a machine gun pairing synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades. This was made up of 2 x 7.92mm LMG 08/15 Spandau air-cooled machine gun weapons. The aircraft was designed to carry a modest bomb load (primarily anti-personnel in nature). In this way, the aircraft could strafe targets with machine gun fire and drop conventional ordnance on infantry positions. Additionally, the machine gun pairing could be turned against any aerial attacker attempting to down the DJ.I itself.
Performance included a maximum speed of 112 miles per hour and a rate-of-climb of 820 feet per minute.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
22.0 ft (6.70 m)
Width/Span
32.8 ft (10.00 m)
Height
9.8 ft (3.00 m)
Empty Wgt
2,612 lb (1,185 kg)
MTOW
3,020 lb (1,370 kg)
Wgt Diff
+408 lb (+185 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base AEG DJ.I production variant)
Installed:
1 x Benz Bz.IIIb V8 water-cooled inline piston engine developing 194 horsepower OR 1 x Maybach Mb IVa engine of 240 horsepower driving a four-bladed propeller at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base AEG DJ.I 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:
2 x 7.92mm KMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.
OPTIONAL:
4 x Anti-Personnel Drop Bombs
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 4
DJ.I - Base Series Designation; three prototypes 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 (cancelled)
