Tail trestles

[Frederic Mason]

Here's one for the Luftstreitkraefte experts or who knows? In many photos of German Jasta aircraft lineups I've noted - the Albatros D pursuits often have the tail of the a/c supported by a wooden trestle support so that the a/c is leveled in an inflight attitude. This position and the trestles are often on several or more a/c in a field lineup at once.

My question is - what is the reason or reasons for this hoisted attitude on so many a/c in a line??? Gun alignment, ease of engine maintenance?? Or is it another reason I'm missing???

Just something I was wondering about from the many photos of it. Cheers; FM

[Old Man]

Not quite my patch, Sir, and doubtless others will know more, but your question jogged a memory, and I find in Mr. Imrie's 'Pictorial History of the German Army Air Force' a photograph of an Albatros two-seater propped up as you describe, and the caption reads: "Running up of the engine of an Albatros biplane (DDK) (B993/15). It was normal practice to carry out prolonged ground running of German aeroplanes fitted with six-cylinder in-line engines in 'flying position', hence the trestle under the tail. This was to prevent malfunctioning of lubrication and cooling systems at high ground angles."