ALBATROS C.III

Source: Mostly former German aircraft, #64 was built from scratch.

Acquired: 1919 (#64 in 1929)

Type: trainer

Engine:

Dimensions

Length: 8.6 m

Wing Span: 14.3 m

Height: 3.5 m

Range: 650 km

Maximum Ceiling: 3000 m

Known Serial Numbers: 22, 25, 26, 29

Notes

• 1145/18
  • Original serial number: 1145. The aircraft was in service for only a few days so it is unknown if a Latvian serial number was ever assigned/applied.
  • July 17, 1920 - test flown by V.Jakubovs and then turned over to the Aviation Park for active service.
  • July 22, 1920 - pilot Vizins takes #1145 on a familiarization flight in preparation for the Aviation Festival at Spilve on July 25. Flying over the Daugava River at an altitude of 150 metres the engine stopped. Vizins was too far from Spilve to glide back to the aerodrome, so he was forced to bring the aircraft down on the water near the export docks. The pilot was only slightly injured, but the aircraft sank and, when recovered on July 31, was deemed to be beyond repair.
• #22
  • April 28, 1923 - crashed heavily.
  • May 17, 1923 - written off as beyond repair.
• #25
  • February 18, 1921 - After rebuild, this aircraft is test flown and placed on the active roster.
  • June 15, 1924 - participates in the Aviation Festival at Spilve.

    Date	Personnel	Duration	Notes
    June 20, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    June 25, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    June 27, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    June 28, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	25 min	training flight over aerodrome
    June 29, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 2, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 3, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 5, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	5 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 6, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 10, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	5 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 13, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 18, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	5 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 25, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	5 min	training flight over aerodrome
    July 31, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 1, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 3, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 4, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	20 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 7, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 8, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 9, 1923	p - Zarins o - Gulbis	20 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 9, 1923	p - Gulbis	10 min	First solo flight
    August 9, 1923	p - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 14, 1923	p - Gulbis	25 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 14, 1923	p - Gulbis	10 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 15, 1923	p - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 18, 1923	p - Gulbis	20 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 22, 1923	p - Gulbis	25 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 23, 1923	p - Gulbis	5 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 24, 1923	p - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 24, 1923	p - Gulbis	25 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 29, 1923	p - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    August 30, 1923	p - Gulbis	35 min	training flight over aerodrome
    September 4, 1923	p - Gulbis	20 min	training flight over aerodrome
    September 5, 1923	p - Gulbis	15 min	training flight over aerodrome
    September 5, 1923	p - Gulbis	35 min	training flight over aerodrome
    September 6, 1923	p - Gulbis	70 min	training flight over aerodrome
    September 7, 1923	p - Gulbis o - Birzulis	35 min	training flight - forced landing near Incukalns. Aircraft undamaged.
    September 14, 1923	p - Gulbis o - Bergmanis	30 min	training flight - forced landing (engine trouble). Minor damage
    September 26, 1923	p - Gulbis o - Vistins	50 min	Gulbis' final Flight School training flight
    February 14, 1924	p - Gulbis	25 min	training flight
    February 14, 1924	p - Gulbis	40 min	training flight
    February 19, 1924	p - Gulbis	60 min	training flight
    February 19, 1924	p - Gulbis	65 min	training flight

• #26
  • Original serial no. 1158/18
  • February, 1921 - Assigned to 3rd Aviation Section. (Presumably not yet flying)
  • April 6, 1921 - after rebuild, this aircraft is test flown and placed on the active roster.
  • Sept.11, 1921 - crashes on aerodrome.
  • Mercedes 160 hp engine
• #29
  • Original serial number: 2345/16
  • June 2, 1920 - V.Jakubovs transports the leader of the British Baltic mission (Turner) to Kaunas in Albatros #29.
• #64
  • This was a heavily modified C.III built at Arsenals by Karlis Skaubitis.
  • Skaubitis was paid an additional 200 lati for this project.
  • The aircraft had control ailerons on both the upper and the lower wings, and had a noticeably widened fuselage to accommodate recon camera equipment.
  • Equipped with a 260-hp Mercedes engine.
  • July 13, 1929 - First test flight
  • Sept. 5, 1929 - Fatal crash at Spilve, claiming the lives of Skaubitis and Bonifacijs Mazurs. The aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot attempted to turn back towards the aerodrome and slipped into an irrecoverable spin. The plane crashed heavily and, along with the occupants, burned.

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