The Albatros L 73 was a German twin-engined biplane airliner of the 1920s. Of conventional configuration, it featured a streamlined, boat-like fuselage and engine nacelles. All four manufactured aircraft of that type were operated by Deutsche Luft Hansa, one of which (Brandenburg, D-961) crashed near Babekuhl on 28 May 1928.

L 73
D-961 Brandenburg at the opening of Stettin Airstrip in 1927. Second from left the Stockholm Municipal commissioner Yngve Larsson.
General information
TypeAirliner
ManufacturerAlbatros Flugzeugwerke
Designer
Primary userDeutsche Luft Hansa
Number built4
History
First flight1926

Variants

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L 73a
powered by two 310 kW (420 hp) Siemens-built Bristol Jupiter.[1]
L 73b
version with Junkers L5 engines
L 73c
engines upgraded to BMW V

Operators

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  Bulgaria
  Germany

Specifications (L 73b)

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Albatros L 73 3 view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.16

Data from The Albatros L.73 [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two (pilot and engineer)
  • Capacity: Eight passengers
  • Length: 14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 19.7 m (64 ft 8 in)
  • Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 92 m2 (990 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,914 kg (6,424 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,610 kg (10,163 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × BMW IV six-cylinder, water-cooled Inline engine, 180 kW (240 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 145 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)
  • Range: 540 km (340 mi, 290 nmi) [3]
  • Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 14 minutes to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

References

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  1. ^ Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 128c.
  2. ^ "The Albatros L.73: A German Biplane with Two 240 h.p. B.M.W. IV Engines". Flight. XVIII (924): 562–564. 9 September 1926.
  3. ^ Stroud 1966, p. 225.

Further reading

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  • Stroud, John (1966). European Transport Aircraft since 1910. London: Putnam.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 55–56.
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