AEG Dr.I

Triplane Fighter Prototype Aircraft [ 1917 ]

A single, poorly-performing prototype was all that was realized of the AEG Dr.I triplane fighter project during World War 1.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/31/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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The end of the D.I biplane fighter for AEG did not mark the end of work on the series. The design was evolved into a triplane form as the Dr.I. The triplane made its mark through several notable designs put forth by the Allies and the Germans and advantages included maximized control due to the increase in lift and drag. Such fighters held a short-lived mastery of the skies for designs ultimately reverted back to biplane types. Nevertheless, just about every major aircraft firm attempted a three-winged (or more) design before the end of the war.

Development of the Dr.I originated from a review of a captured British Sopwith Triplane fighter during July of 1917. This possessed the Germans to develop something of equal capability lest they be outdone in the air by their long-time enemy. In October of 1917, AEG attempted just that and took their ultimately-abandoned D.I biplane and added a third wing member between the existing upper and lower sections. The aircraft retained the fuselage, tail unit and armament suite (2 x 7.92mm machine guns) of the D.I as well as the wheeled tail-dragger undercarriage. Power was derived from a Daimler D.IIIa 6-cylinder water-cooled inline piston engine of 170 horsepower.

Despite the third wing element, the Dr.I showcased poor handling and the added drag reduced performance of an already poor-performing fighter (maximum speed was 106 miles per hour). As quickly as the Dr.I appeared, it was abandoned as no interest in the type had formed.

The war would progress without it.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1917

Origin

Imperial Germany

Status

CANCELLED
Development Ended.

Crew

1

Production

1
UNITS

Allgemeine Elektricitats-Gesellschaft AG (AEG) - Imperial Germany

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

German Empire (cancelled)

(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.

Length

20.0 ft
(6.10 m)

Width/Span

27.9 ft
(8.50 m)

Height

8.7 ft
(2.65 m)

Empty Wgt

1,510 lb
(685 kg)

MTOW

2,072 lb
(940 kg)

Wgt Diff

+562 lb
(+255 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base AEG Dr.I production variant)

Installed: 1 x Daimler D.IIIa 6-cylinder water-cooled inline piston engine developing 170 horsepower and driving a two-bladed propeller at the nose.

Max Speed

106 mph
(170 kph | 92 kts)

Ceiling

15,092 ft
(4,600 m | 3 mi)

Range

286 mi
(460 km | 852 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

1,300 ft/min
(396 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base AEG Dr.I production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

2 x 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine guns synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 0

Dr.I - Base Series Designation; single prototype completed.

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