Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III | |
---|---|
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Role | Fighter |
Manufacturer | Pfalz |
Designer | Rudolf Gehringer [1][2] |
First flight | late spring 1917 [3] |
Introduction | Aug 1917 [3][2][note 1] |
Primary users | ![]() |
Number built | 260 [5] |
Variants | Pfalz D.IIIa |
Wingspan | 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in) [6][7][8] |
Engine | 160hp Mercedes D.III inline |
Armament | 2×sync. fixed LMG08/15 [note 2] |
Ammo | 1000 rounds[8] |
Crew | 1 |
Max Speed | 165 km/h (103 mph)[9][10][7][8][note 3] to 169 km/h (105 mph)[6] |
Climb | 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 3:15[9][8] 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 7:15[9][8] 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 11:45[9][8]-17:00[6] |
Ceiling | 5,200 m (17,000 ft)[9][10][7] |
Endurance | 2:00[8]-2:30 [9][8][10][7] |
Pfalz had gained enough experience building the L.F.G. Roland D.II to put together a fighter design of their own, and the result was the well-streamlined Pfalz D.III. The ply-wrapped oval fuselage was very strong. While the lower wing was smaller in chord than the upper, its twin spars kept it from suffering the twisting problems of the Nieuport and Albatros sesquiplane designs, and the Pfalz had a reputation of being stable and strong in a fast dive.[11]
Early D.IIIs had the machine guns buried in the fuselage, but later ones, in the form of the Pfalz D.IIIa, moved them to the upper decking where they could be serviced in case of a jam.[12] By early 1918, with the D.IIIa coming into full play, the D.III had started to be moved into more of a training role or supplied to ally Turkey.[3]
The D.III was a good aeroplane, but it was overshadowed by the Albatros D.Va and Fokker D.VII[2], and prejudice against Bavarian Pfalz decreased its stature with front-line pilots. It was used with success by pilots such as Werner Voss (before switching to the Fokker Dr.I) and Paul Baümer.[13]
For more information, see Wikipedia:Pfalz D.III.
Timeline [note 4]

Game Data
Wings of Glory
Availability | Maneuver | Damage | Dmg Points | Max Alt. | Climb | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jun/Jul17-Jul18 | J | A | 16 | 12 | 3 | 83 |
Plane and Crew Cards
Jasta 10
Hecht
Guntruck
Jasta 10
Heldmann
Guntruck
Jasta 10
Klein
Guntruck
Jasta 10
Voss
Guntruck
Jasta 15
Arntzen
Guntruck
Jasta 21
Hohn
Guntruck
Jasta 22
Lenz
Guntruck
Jasta 30
Buddecke
Guntruck
Jasta 34B
Stark
Guntruck
Card Links
Blue Max/Canvas Eagles
Miniatures and Models
1:144 Scale
- Shapeways: Columbia Aerodrome, Decapod, Reduced Aircraft Factory
- Metal kit: Red Eagle, Reviresco
- Wings of War: WW23D Höhn; WW23E Klein
1:200 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
- Metal Cast: Goblintooth/H.A./MSD GEG-08
1:300 Scale
- Metal kit: Heroics & Ros GWA308
Resources
Orthographic Drawings
References
- Notes
- Citations
- ↑ Grosz'90, p.2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Angelucci, p.59.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rimell, p.1.
- ↑ Gray'65, p.7.
- ↑ Grosz'90, p.33.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lamberton, pp.220-221.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Angelucci, p.48.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Gray'65, p.12.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Gray'87, p.190.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Munson, p.35.
- ↑ Gray'65, p.8.
- ↑ Gray'87, p.187.
- ↑ Gray'65, p.10.
- ↑ Grosz'85, p.60 and Grosz'86, p.66.
- Bibliography
- Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
- Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
- Peter L. Gray, Profile Publications 43: The Pfalz D.III. Great Britain: Profile Publications Ltd, 1965.
- Peter M. Grosz, "Archiv -- Frontbestand". WW1 Aero, № 107, Dec 1985 and № 108, Feb 1986. Poughkeepsie, NY: World War I Aeroplanes, Inc.
- P.M. Grosz and R.L. Rimmel, ed., Windsock Datafile 21: Pfalz D.IIIa. Great Britain: Albatros Productions, Ltd, 1990. ISBN 0-948414-25-1
- W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
- Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
- R.L. Rimell and P.M. Grosz, Windsock Datafile 7: Pfalz D.III. Great Britain: Albatros Publications, Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-948414-11-1