Gotha G.I Country: Germany Type: Bomber Manufacturer: Gothaer Service: 1915 - 1917 First Flight: 30 January 1915 Production: 20

The Gotha G.I was a heavy bomber used by the Luftstreitkraefte (Imperial German Air Service) during the First World War. The first production aircraft was completed on 27 July 1915. Gothaer Waggonfabrik built 18 G.I aircraft in three batches of six before production ceased at the end of the year. The final batch was powered by 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III engines and featured an extra defensive machine gun and nearly double the armour of previous examples. A single example of a seaplane version (UWD) was also built, ordered by the Navy in April 1915 and delivered in February 1916.

Records show only small numbers ever in combat service at any one time (the most being five in October and six in December 1915). At this stage of the war, Type G aircraft were being used for a variety of duties, including defensive patrols, reconnaissance and only rarely for bombing. By the time it reached the front, the Gotha G.I was already an easy target for faster and more maneuverable fighters. The UWD seaplane is known to have participated in a successful air-raid on Dover sometime in 1916.

General characteristics