The DOFLUG D-3803 certainly had potential as a fast, powerful fighter design of the World War 2 era - the end of the war and glut of available P-51 Mustangs made its development moot.
The DOFLUG D-3803 was an offshoot of the Swiss-originated D-3802 single-seat, single-engine monoplane fighter program started in 1942. The existence of both was made possible by both a pre-World War 2 relationship with the nation of France and its Fall at the hands of the Germans in May of 1940, when several French designs made their way to Switzerland. Original Morane-Saulnier designs formed the basis for much of the Swiss work thereafter.
Switzerland received a local production license to manufacture the MS.406, a capable monoplane appearing in 1935, introduced in 1938, and built across 1,176 total examples. These were known locally as "D-3800" and carried Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 engines while relying on the wings of the MS.405 design. After the Fall of France, Switzerland continued work on the line to produce the EFW "D-3801" based in the "MS.412" fighter while the D-3802 was the enhanced, localized version of the French "MS.540" monoplane (both related to the original MS.406). The D-3802, and its sister design the "D-3803", were both a product of DOFLUG - Dornier-Werke AG - the Swiss-based subsidiary of the German Luftwaffe's own Dornier aero-concern (makers of the famous wartime Do 17 "Flying Pencil" medium bomber).
Developed alongside the D-3802, the D-3803 was a slight evolution of this same Swiss fighting aeroplane; it retained the forward-engine mounting, single-seat (enclosed) cockpit, and retractable "tail-dragger" type undercarriage while also utilizing the original's wing mainplanes, tail surfaces, and undercarriage mechanics. In the revision, the fighter was given much-improved all-round vision from the cockpit due to the cut down nature of the rear dorsal fuselage and more pronounced position of the canopy. The engine switched to the Saurer YS-3 liquid-cooled inline piston engine developing 1,430 horsepower, this powerplant an original Hispano-Suiza product and locally licensed and built.
Like the later D-3802A pre-series fighters (of which eleven were ultimately built after the single prototype), the D-3803 enjoyed the firepower of 3 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 automatic cannons, one set to each wing mainplane and the remaining example buried within the engine block - firing through the propeller hub. In addition to this, the fighter could be adapted to conduct fighter-bomber sorties by mounting up to 441lb of bombs or rockets under the wings and fuselage centerline.
Well-streamlined with an all-modern look, coupled to a formidable armament suite, the D-3803 certainly looked the part of wartime fighter. However, by the time the D-3803 specimen flew in its prototype form, the World War that once raged across Europe was over. A first-flight was not recorded until May of 1947 exposing engine issues during the later testing stages which did not help the lagging project. Like the concurrent D-3802 fighter program, the D-3803 was also given up by the Swiss Air Force in favor of acquiring wartime surplus North American P-51D "Mustang" fighters from America.
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(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.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
BAILOUT PROCESS
Manual process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to exit in the event of an airborne emergency.
CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.
Length
30.6 ft (9.33 m)
Width/Span
32.9 ft (10.02 m)
Height
12.3 ft (3.76 m)
Empty Wgt
6,493 lb (2,945 kg)
MTOW
8,598 lb (3,900 kg)
Wgt Diff
+2,105 lb (+955 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base DOFLUG D-3803 production variant)
monoplane / low-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base DOFLUG D-3803 production variant)
Installed:
1 x Saurer (Hispano-Suiza) YS-3 liquid-cooled inline-piston engine developing 1,430 horsepower driving a three-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base DOFLUG D-3803 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)
STANDARD, FIXED:
1 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 automatic cannon firing through the propeller hub.
1 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 automatic cannon in port side wing.
1 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 automatic cannon in starboard side wing.
OPTIONAL:
Up to 441lb of conventional drop bombs or ground-attack rockets.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 3
Mounting Points
-
-
-
-
5
-
1
-
4
-
-
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
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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Switzerland (cancelled)
