Over the Front
1986: Volume 1, Number 4
1986: Volume 1, Number 4
Cover Art
The Riesenflugzeug (Giant aircraft) Linke-Hoffman R.II 55/17 seen under construction at the Linke- Hoffman Werke in Breslau. This aircraft is purportedly the largest single airscrewed aircraft ever built. (The wheels were 5ft. in diameter!) Four 260 h.p. Mercedes D.IVa engines were mounted in the nose section of the fuselage in tandem, and drove a massive propeller at 545 rpm. The design philosopy was based on the successful C type aircraft design and enlarged upon. The aircraft was finished after the Armistice but flew and fulfilled it's design expectations. (photo via the W.R. Puglisi collection.)