Albatros Publications

Windsock Datafile 114 - Albatros C.X

by  P. M. Grosz

Reviewed By  Michael Scott, IPMS# 43177

Magazine format, 36 pages, 6pp scale drawings. 3 colour profiles. 59 b/w photos. This is yet another Datafile containing a significant amount of information about one particular aircraft, relatively unknown outside WWI air circles. Even within those circles for that matter. It keeps to the usual Datafile excellent standard of production. Photos are very nice, especially considering what condition photography was in during the Great War, and even more so considering that they are almost a century old. Noteworthy are two shots of the observer's cockpit and the amazing amount of gear stowed therein. This Albatros two-seater is certainly one of the better looking aircraft flown in WWI. Aerodynamic. Sleek. Mono-construction. Just one stone cool airplane. Reading about this marvel of the skies in the Datafile revealed that the C.X was a dog. In a June, 1917 critique of the airplane by Idflieg, "…the Albatros C.X and C.XII have already been far surpassed in performance and have in no way reached the hopes set for it especially in relation to speed and climb performance." The Albatros C series was destined to live out it's days as a training machine for more competent two-seaters like the Rumpler. An interesting bit of history and especially valuable for anyone wanting to actually build one of these aircraft. I don't know of a plastic kit being offered for this airplane, so it would have to be a kit-bash or scratch build, in which event, this volume would be invaluable. Thanks to Ray Rimell at Albatros and IPMS for the review copy.

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