Pfalz Dr.I

Pfalz Dr. I
Pfalz Dr.I
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Pfalz Flugzeugwerke
First flight October 1917
Introduction April 1918
Retired 1918
Primary user Luftstreitkräfte
Number built 10

The Pfalz Dr.I was a German fighter prototype of World War I. Official interest in the potential of the triplane configuration for single-seat fighters prompted Pfalz to develop the Dr.I. It underwent initial testing in October 1917, and an initial batch of 10 aircraft were shipped to the Front and arrived in April 1918.

Operational history

Service pilots involved in testing the Dr.I considered it too slow and its Sh III engine too unreliable for frontline use and no further examples were produced. Jasta 73 was equipped with this aircraft in 1918.

List of operators

 German Empire

Specifications

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 190 km/h (118 mph) 190km/h (118mph) at 4,000m (13,125 ft)
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m[1] (19,680 ft)
  • Time to 5,000 m: 13.5 minutes
  • Endurance: 1.5 hours

Armament

  • Guns: 2 x synchronised LMG 08/15 machine guns

References

Notes
  1. Angelucci 1983, p. 47.
Bibliography

  • Enzo Angelucci (1981). Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. Crescent. ISBN 978-0-517-41021-9.
  • William Green; Gordon Swanborough (1998-12-01). Complete Book of Fighters. ISBN 978-1-85833-777-7.
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