Pfalz Dr.I

Infobox Aircraft
name =Pfalz Dr. I
type = Fighter
manufacturer = Pfalz Flugzeug-Werke


caption =
designer =
first flight = October avyear|1917
introduced = April avyear|1918
retired = avyear|1918
status =
primary user = Luftstreitkräfte
more users =
produced =
number built =10
unit cost =
variants with their own articles =

The Pfalz Dr.I was a German fighter prototype of World War I. Official interest in the protential 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.

List of operators

;flag|German Empire

Specifications

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=One
span main=8.55 m
span alt=28 ft 0⅔ in
area main=17.20m²
area alt= 185.14 ft²
length main=5.50m
length alt=18 ft 0½ in
height main=2.76 m
height alt=9 ft 0⅔ in
empty weight main=510 kg
empty weight alt=1,124 lb
loaded weight main=705 kg
loaded weight alt=1,554 lb
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=Siemens-Halske Sh.III
type of prop=eleven cylinder geared rotary engine
number of props=1
power main=119 kW
power alt=160 hp
max speed main=190 km/h
max speed alt=118 mph
max speed more= 190km/h (118mph) at 4,000m (13,125 ft)
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
*Time to 5,000 m: 13.5 minutes
*Endurance: 1.5 hours
guns=2 x synchronised LMG 08/15 machine guns

Bibliography

* William Green and Gordon Swanborough. "The Complete Book of Fighters". Colour Library Direct, Godalming, UK: 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.