Siemens-Schuckert D.I

When it became apparent to the Inspectorate of Flying Troops that the Fokker monoplanes and their ilk were losing the battle for air supremacy, they provided captured Nieuports to several firms. The Siemens-Schuckert D.I was a fairly direct copy of the Nieuport 17, with a somewhat smaller wingspan and replacing the engine with the Siemens-Halske Sh.I. The engine was somewhat revolutionary in that it rotated the cylinders in one direction at 900rpm and the crankshaft, pistons, and propeller in the opposite direction at the same speed, which kept the propeller at a more efficient 900rpm relative to the air.

An order for 150 was placed in November 1916, but by the time the planes started arriving in 1917 it was found to be again behind the curve, and only 95 were built, serving in small numbers with nine Jastas.

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory, wow

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory