Albatros D.III

The Albatros D.III was a German single‑seat fighter introduced in late 1916 during World War I. Built by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke, it derived its airframe from the earlier D.I and D.II but incorporated a new sesquiplane wing layout, with a narrow lower wing and a larger, staggered upper wing. This design gave the aircraft a superior climb rate and maneuverability compared with its predecessors, while retaining the powerful 160‑horse‑power Mercedes D.IIIa engine that propelled it to a top speed of about 175 km/h (109 mph). The D.III entered service with the Luftstreitkräfte’s Jagdstaffeln and quickly became the mount of aces such as Manfred von Richthofen and Werner Voss. Its robust wooden fuselage, streamlined oval cross‑section, and twin‑machine‑gun armament made it a formidable opponent in the aerial battles over the Western Front. Although structural problems with the lower wing led to occasional failures, continual refinements produced the D.IIIa and later D.V variants. The aircraft’s impact was profound: it shifted the balance of air superiority in 1917, influenced subsequent fighter designs, and remains a symbol of early twentieth‑century aviation innovation. Production ran until early 1918, resulting in roughly 900 D.III airframes delivered to German units on frontlines.

Albatros

Classification

Dimensions

Production & History

Design & Classification