D.III
Fokker D.III
The Fokker D.III was a direct development of the Fokker D.I and Fokker D.II.
The Fokker D.III was actually a modified Fokker D.II with a 160 hp Oberursel U III rotary engine with a double row of 2 x 7 cylinders and a wing area of 20 m2.
The Fokker D.I and Fokker D.II had a wing area of 22 and 18 m2 respectively.
Initially, the D.III had no ailerons, but was equipped for wing warping. Later they were fitted with ailerons, which greatly improved maneuverability.
With the D.III, was also experimented with different propellers.
On July 20, 1916 the D.III prototype was tested in Adlershof and after approval 50 copies were ordered for the German army by the “Inspektion der Fliegertruppen”, Idflieg.
But Boelcke did think that the plane was slower than the English Sopwith 1½ Strutter and much slower than the French Nieuport Scout.
Reason for him to switch to the German Albatros D.I because it was a lot faster than the D.III.
The top speed of the D.III was only 160 km / h. This was partly due to the poor performance of the double row rotary engine. The rear row of 7 cylinders could not be cooled properly and therefore the engine could preform to the maximum.
As a result of Boelcke's advice, the D.III was withdrawn from the front line and then they were deployed for the home front, among other things for pilot training.
From a number of D.IIIs put up for sale by the German army, the Dutch LVA, Aviation Division, bought 10 unarmed units.
The LVA's D.IIIs entered service on October 1, 1917, and remained in service until 1921.
A total of 210 copies of the D.III were built.
Click on the photo to enlarge the photo
The Fokker D.III was actually a modified Fokker D.II with a 160 hp Oberursel U III rotary engine with a double row of 2 x 7 cylinders and a wing area of 20 m2.
The Fokker D.I and Fokker D.II had a wing area of 22 and 18 m2 respectively.
Initially, the D.III had no ailerons, but was equipped for wing warping. Later they were fitted with ailerons, which greatly improved maneuverability.
With the D.III, was also experimented with different propellers.
The D.III had significantly better performance than both of its predecessors.
The Idflieg was the office of the German Reich that supervised German military aviation prior to and during the First World War.
In September 1916, the well-known German war pilot Oswald Boelcke received a Fokker D.III.
Initially he was very fond of the plane and achieved six victories during the first weeks.But Boelcke did think that the plane was slower than the English Sopwith 1½ Strutter and much slower than the French Nieuport Scout.
Reason for him to switch to the German Albatros D.I because it was a lot faster than the D.III.
The top speed of the D.III was only 160 km / h. This was partly due to the poor performance of the double row rotary engine. The rear row of 7 cylinders could not be cooled properly and therefore the engine could preform to the maximum.
As a result of Boelcke's advice, the D.III was withdrawn from the front line and then they were deployed for the home front, among other things for pilot training.
From a number of D.IIIs put up for sale by the German army, the Dutch LVA, Aviation Division, bought 10 unarmed units.
The LVA's D.IIIs entered service on October 1, 1917, and remained in service until 1921.
A total of 210 copies of the D.III were built.
Click on the photo to enlarge the photo
