Aviatik D.III

Aviatik D.III
Oblique view of the Aviatik D.III
Role	Fighter
National origin	German
Manufacturer	Aviatik
First flight	November 1917
Status	Prototype only
Number built	2

The Aviatik D.III was a German prototype single-seater fighter plane from the First World War, designed by Aviatik. It became the basis for the Aviatik D.IV and Aviatik D.V. In November 1917, the plane was first flown, using a 195 hp Benz Bz IIIbo gearless engine. It was of similar design to the Aviatik D.II, and was armed with two LMG 08/15 machine guns. After several tests at Adlershof from February 9–12, 1918, the plane underwent modifications, as requested by the Idflieg. In April, a second prototype, powered by a Benz Bz IIIbm, although several D.III powered by the original IIIbo engine were already under production; however, none of them were ever completed.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 8.47 m (27 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
• Height: 3.08 m (10 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 21 m² (230 sq ft)
• Gross weight: 864 kg (1,905 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz IIIbo 8-cylinder liquid-cooled V engine, 145 kW (195 hp)

Performance

• Range: 720 km (450 mi, 390 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 0.11 m/s (22 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × fixed, synchronized 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine guns in the forward fuselage

Bibliography

• Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen (1987) [1970]. German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
• Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon (2001) [1994]. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown (Revised and Updated ed.). London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-84065-269-1.
• Herris, Jack (2023). Aviatik Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 10 (2nd ed.). n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-953201-59-1.