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The Albatros D.IX was an attempt to produce a fighter that was easier to produce than earlier models, but its performance was poor and only one was built. The D.IX used a similar wing to the D.VII of August 1917, with wings of equal chord (a change from the sesquiplane layout of the D.V). The rounded fuselage of the D.V and D.VII was replaced with a slab sided and flat bottomed fuselage, although the standard Albatros construction method (with a wooden framework and plywood covering) was retained. The nose was also simplified and the well-designed spinner used on previous Albatros fighters was abandoned. The D.IX was also given a less powerful Mercedes D.IIIa engine. A single D.IX was built early in 1918 but its performance was disappointing, with a top speed of under 100mph, and development was abandoned in favour of the slightly more sophisticated D.X.
Engine: Mercedes D.IIIa
Power: 180hp
Span: 34ft 1 1/2in
Length: 21ft 8 7/8in
Height: 9ft 0 3/8in
Empty weight: 1,489lb
Loaded weight: 1,973lb
Max speed: 97mph
Climb Rate: 4 minutes to 3,280ft
Endurance: 1hr 30mins
Armament: Two Spandau machine guns