[1] It was developed from the C.IV and optimised for high-altitude missions that would allow it to operate at heights that would render it immune to interception by enemy fighters.

[3] The most significant difference between the C.IV and C.VII was the choice of the Maybach Mb IVa engine to replace the Mercedes D.IV.

The armament was one fixed, synchronized LMG 08/15 Spandau machine gun firing forward, and one manually operated 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun at the observer/gunner's rear position (the observer also operated a radio).

The Rubild was a "stripped-down" version that dispensed with the forward gun and eliminated all other extraneous equipment in order to carry specialized cameras.

"[7] One of the few Allied fighters able to reach such altitudes, and hence capable of intercepting the Rubild, was the Sopwith Dolphin.