THE ALBATROS COMMERCIAL MONOPLANE, TYPE L.58  (Flight October 1922)
275 H.P. Rolls-Royce "Falcon" Engine
IN pur issue of December 9, 1920, we published scale drawings and a brief description of a new monoplane which had then  just been designed by the engineers of the German Albatros Company of Berlin. The machine was a cantilever monoplane, known as the L.57, designed to carry six passengers. At the time it was intended to maiket the new machine with three different power plants-160 h.p. Mercedes, 185 h.p. B.M.W or 200 h.p. Benz. Owing to the restrictions placed by the Allies on German aircraft construction, the machine was not built for some considerable time, and it was not, in fact, until quite recently-towards the end of September of this year-that the first machine was finished. We have  been fortunate enough to secure what we believe to be the first photographs to be published of this new German commercial aeroplane, which, with the accompanying description,  should be of interest to British readers.
An examination of the accompanying photographs shows that various minor alterations have been made to the lbatros since the general arrangement drawings were first -published in FLIGHT in 1920. In the main, however, the L.57 remains as originally designed, with the important exception that a Rolls-Royce " Falcon " engine has been  fitted in place of one of the three German types originally Contemplated.  As regards the changes in the machine itself, these are mainly : Fin and rudder of different shape, and the centre of thrust raised considerably, sweeping the lower longerons upwards more, and a smaller downward curve of the top of the engine cowling. As originally designed, the lower rails of the fuselage were nearly straight, the upper rails sweeping down at both ends and giving the machine a  " hunch-backed " appearance, As actually built, the fuselage is more nearly symmetrical in side view, and the centre of thrust considerably higher.  is more nearly symmetrical in side view, and the centre of thrust considerably higher.
Constructionally, the Albatros L.57 follows more or less on the lines of pre-War machines made by this firm. That is to say, the fuselage is covered with three-ply, as were those of the earlier machines, one of which was demonstrated in this country by Herr Thelen, the famous Albatros pilot, shortly before the outbreak of war. In the new machine, however this form of covering has been extended to include the monoplane wing, the greater portion of which is covered with three.-plv- Only the portion from the rear spar to the trailing edge is covered with fabric. The wing is attached to the top rails of the fuselage by six large bolts, and can therefore be quickly dismantled for transport. 
A cabin with seating accommodation for six passengers is provided immediately underneath the wing, and two doors in each side give access to the passenger compartment.  Above the cabin, in the cential portion of the wing (which at this point is about 2 ft. deep), is a luggage compartment while a short distance out from the fuselage, also inside the wing, are the petrol tanks from which the fuel is supplied to the engine by gravity feed.  The pilot's cockpit is placed high in the fuselage, immediately in front of the leading edge of the wing, and partly above the engine. The pilot's seat is on the port side, while on the starboard is a seat for a spare pilot, navigator or engineer.

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