Halberstadter Flugzeugwerke (Halberstadt) of German made its first foray into fighter aircraft design with the "D.I" of 1915. The design was a dimensionally smaller version of the company's B.II product and featured many qualities of combat aircraft of the period - an over-under biplane wing structure, fixed undercarriage and open-air cockpit. The D.I initially failed to impress German authorities and the line ended at just two prototypes completed - but this work served to produce the refined D.II model (detailed elsewhere on this site).
The D.I differed from the earlier B.II in that it held smaller-area wings and these appendages were staggered. As a combat aircraft, it was also finalized with a single 7.92mm MG08 machine gun in a fixed, forward-firing mounting. The engine was fitted to the nose in the usual way and drove a two-bladed propeller unit. The radiator element protruded noticeably out of the nose and restricted forward vision some. The fuselage showcased slab sides and the tail was of conventional arrangement.
The first of two prototypes emerged for testing with an Argus As II engine of 120 horsepower and a first-flight was recorded in late-Autumn of 1915. The second followed with a Mercedes D.I of 100 horsepower. Some promise was shown in the latter offering to the point that a twelve-strong order was placed in March of 1916. However, during the evaluation period, the aircraft was found lacking in certain qualities which, when refined, led to the developed "D.II" detailed elsewhere on this site.
From the recorded work, the D.I showcased a wingspan of 28.9 feet, an empty weight of 1,210lb and a MTOW of 1,630lb. Much of its performance figures are unknown.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Width/Span
28.9 ft (8.80 m)
Empty Wgt
1,213 lb (550 kg)
MTOW
1,653 lb (750 kg)
Wgt Diff
+441 lb (+200 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Halberstadt D.I production variant)
Installed:
Second Prototype: 1 x Mercedes D.I engine developing 100 horsepower and driving a two-bladed propeller at the nose.
1 x 7.92mm MG08 machine gun (starboard side fuselage mounting).
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
D.I - Series Designation; two prototypes completed.
D.I V1 - First prototype with Argus As II engine of 120 horsepower.
D.I V2 - Second prototype with Mercedes D.I engine of 100 horsepower.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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