In late 1928, the Albatros Flugzeugwerke at Johannisthal accepted from the Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke two L.77v tandem two-seat fighter and reconnaissance aircraft that had been built by the latter under Albatros licence. Developed to a Reichswehr contract, the L.77v was a derivative of the L.76 Aeolus trainer and reconnaissance two-seater of 1926 which saw extensive use at the clandestine German flying training school at Lipezk in the Soviet Union (Three of the aircraft saw service performing armament trials in Lipetsk in the Soviet Union; these included one aircraft testing a free-mounted 20 mm cannon.). Possessing an airframe essentially similar to that of the L.76, with two-spar wooden wings primarily plywood covered, N-type interplane struts and a fabric-covered, welded steeltube fuselage, the L.77v was powered by a 600hp BMW VI 5.5 water-cooled 12-cylinder Vee-type engine. Armament comprised two fixed forward-firing 7.9mm machine guns and a similar weapon on a ring mounting in the rear cockpit. One of the L.77v aircraft was destroyed while under test in March 1929.  From December 1929, these aircraft were flown from the Erprobungsstelle, or Test Centre, at Staaken, and were retired in October 1931.
Type Two seat fighter and reconnaissance aircraft
Engine 1 BMW VI 5.5
Dimensions Length 8.45 m, height 3.9 m, span 12.76 m, wingarea 27.8 m2
Weights Empty , loaded  , max. take off weight  
Performance Max. speed at 1500 m 220 km/h , cruising speed  , range , endurance  , service ceiling   , climb
Armament 2 fixed forward firing 7.9 mm MG in the nose over the engine, 1 movable 7.9 mm MG in the observers position, 2 50 kg bombs (The armament was only tested in Lipezk). 1 20 mm Oerlikon was tested in the dorsal position
Type Werk.Nr Registration History
10136 D-1546 Registered to the Albatros company in Jan. 1929. In Dec. 1929 to RDL ErprobungsStelle, Staaken. In Dec. 1932 to DVS GmbH. Flight permission withdrawn in Oct. 1931. In Dec. 1936 sold abroad
10137 D-1547 Registered to the Albatros company in Jan. 1929. Destroyed in March 1929
10138 D-1548 Registered to the Albatros company in Jan. 1929. In Dec. 1929 to RDL ErprobungsStelle, Staaken. In Dec. 1932 to DVS GmbH. Flight permission withdrawn in Oct. 1931.
10139 D-1549 Registered to the Albatros company in Jan. 1929. In Dec. 1929 to RDL ErprobungsStelle, Staaken. In Dec. 1932 to DVS GmbH. Flight permission withdrawn in Oct. 1931.
303 D-1573 Built by Heinkel. Registered to the Albatros company in March 1929. In Dec. 1929 to RDL ErprobungsStelle, Staaken. . Flight permission withdrawn in Oct. 1931.
304 D-1574 Built by Heinkel. Registered to the Albatros company in March 1929. In Dec. 1929 to RDL ErprobungsStelle, Staaken. In Dec. 1932 to DVS GmbH. Flight permission withdrawn in Oct. 1931.