02/28/2023. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Designed by Karl Rösner, work on the two-seat Gotha LE 4 Taube trainer aircraft began on January 31, 1914, at the Abteilung Flugzeugbau (Aircraft Section) of the Gothaer Waggonfabrik (Gotha Railcar Factory) at Gotha, Germany. In June 1914, produced the LE 4. Strikingly different from the previous Taube (Dove) models LE 1 to LE 3 of the company, the LE 4 was improved with a steal tube fuselage. Equipped with an automotive type nose radiator, and a horizontal tail surface with conventional hinged elevators, the LE 4 was much more modern in appearance than earlier Tauben.
Thanks to a powerful 100 hp Mercedes D.I six-cylinder in-line engine, it developed a relatively high speed for its time: 75 mph (120 kmh).
Gotha LE 4 Taube in original configuration (Johan Visschedijk Collection)
Initially the LE 4 had the front and rear lift wires attached directly to the undercarriage struts, a configuration disliked by the Fliegertruppe. The LE 4 was damaged on May 15, 1914, while participating in the Prinz Heinrich Flug.
(The reliability flight, also known as the Prince Heinrich Flight after Prince Heinrich of Prussia took over the patronage from 1913, was a reliability competition for German aircraft that was held between 1911 and 1914. The competition served to test the latest German flight models under practical conditions and was primarily oriented towards the military.)
Initially the LE 4 had the front and rear lift wires attached directly to the undercarriage struts, a configuration disliked by the Fliegertruppe. The LE 4 was damaged on May 15, 1914, while participating in the Prinz Heinrich Flug.
(The reliability flight, also known as the Prince Heinrich Flight after Prince Heinrich of Prussia took over the patronage from 1913, was a reliability competition for German aircraft that was held between 1911 and 1914. The competition served to test the latest German flight models under practical conditions and was primarily oriented towards the military.)
Gotha LE 4 Taube after modifications (Johan Visschedijk Collection)
During the repair the LE 4 was modified to have the front and rear lift wires attached to separate pylons in front and behind the main landing gear. The U-shaped landing gear struts were replaced by V-shaped struts protruding down and out of the lower spars. After the repair and modification, the LE 4 was assigned to the Herzog Carl Eduard Fliegerschule in Gotha, and was entered in several more flying meetings. The LE 4 redesignated A II at the beginning of WW I, however, the Taube configuration was obsolete, and the aircraft never made it to the front. Only one example was built."
During the repair the LE 4 was modified to have the front and rear lift wires attached to separate pylons in front and behind the main landing gear. The U-shaped landing gear struts were replaced by V-shaped struts protruding down and out of the lower spars. After the repair and modification, the LE 4 was assigned to the Herzog Carl Eduard Fliegerschule in Gotha, and was entered in several more flying meetings. The LE 4 redesignated A II at the beginning of WW I, however, the Taube configuration was obsolete, and the aircraft never made it to the front. Only one example was built."
