The Pfalz D.III was an exceptional aircraft produced in large numbers by Bavaria for Bavarian forces and; later, Imperial German air forces. The D.III biplane was a agile fighter capable of high-speed diving attacks and excelled at attacking Allied reconnaissance balloons and aircraft alike. Two 7.92mm machine guns complimented the system well and production ballooned by 1918.
Bavarian forces were the first to receive the highly-acclaimed Pfalz D.III's as control of the factories was Bavarian to begin with. Ultimately, German pilots would receive the units and they would begin to play a role on the Western Front, though appearing in large numbers to little too late to effect the outcome of the war.
The success of the Pfalz D.III system produced variants and an offshoot that improved upon the base system in the Pfalz D.XII, which reconfigured the radiator closer to the engine and featured other minor improvements to capabilities.
(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.
Length
22.8 ft (6.95 m)
Width/Span
30.8 ft (9.40 m)
Height
8.8 ft (2.67 m)
Empty Wgt
1,532 lb (695 kg)
MTOW
2,061 lb (935 kg)
Wgt Diff
+529 lb (+240 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Pfalz D.IIIa production variant)
Installed:
1 x Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder liquid-cooled inline engine developing 160 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
STANDARD:
2 x 7.92mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
D.III - Base Production Model Designation
D.IIIa - Guns repositioned to upper decking to assist pilot in clearing weapons of jams; subtle changes to horizontal stabilizer and wingtips; appearing in November of 1917; at least 430 examples produced.
D.XII - Further development of the D.III featuring reconfiguration of radiator placement; improved engine performance.
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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Bavaria; German Empire
