AGO DV.3

The AGO DV.3 was a small, single‑engine biplane built by the German firm AGO Flugzeugwerke in the closing years of World War I. First flown in March 1918, the DV.3 was intended as a fast, low‑altitude reconnaissance aircraft that could also carry a light bomb load. Its design combined a compact wooden fuselage with a sesquiplane wing arrangement, giving the aircraft a reduced drag profile while retaining the structural strength of a biplane. Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIa inline engine, the DV.3 reached a top speed of 185 km/h and could remain aloft for four hours. A notable feature was its fully enclosed cockpit, a rare comfort for pilots of the era, and a streamlined engine cowling that reduced turbulence. Although only a handful of examples were produced before the armistice halted further development, the DV.3 demonstrated the potential of mixed‑construction aircraft and foreshadowed the transition to all‑metal monoplane designs in the 1920s. Its brief operational history earned it a place in aviation lore as a forward‑thinking prototype that highlighted the innovative spirit of AGO Flugzeugwerke. Today, a restored example is displayed at the German Aviation Museum, illustrating the company's engineering legacy.