AEG C.III

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AEG C.III was a prototype two-seat reconnaissance biplane built by AEG for Germany's army air service in World War I. It was based on the C.II but had a new fuselage that filled the gap between the wings. The upper wing sat on top of the fuselage so the observer in the front cockpit had a clear field of fire with a 7.92 mm machine gun; the gun could not fire through the propeller because there was no interrupter gear. One or two prototypes were ordered in late 1915, but the aircraft never entered service. The design, inspired by the Roland C.II, aimed to reduce drag by removing the usual wing-to-fuselage support struts. It used the same 150 hp Benz Bz.III engine as the C.II. In flight tests, the space between the wings was too small, causing airflow problems and reducing performance and handling. Development was abandoned.