Aviatik
Aviatik D.III
The Aviatik D.III was a German single‑seat fighter developed by the Aviatik company during the final year of World War I. Conceived as an evolution of the earlier D.I and D.II prototypes, the D.III entered limited production in early 1918, when the Luftstreitkräfte was desperate for fresh types to counter the Allied air superiority. Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes‑D.IIIa inline engine, it featured a conventional single‑bay biplane layout with staggered wings of equal span, a streamlined wooden fuselage, and a rounded cowling that reduced drag. Its armament consisted of two synchronized Luger‑type 7.92 mm machine guns mounted on the upper fuselage, offering respectable firepower for its class. The D.III could reach a top speed of approximately 180 km/h and had a service ceiling near 6,500 m, making it competitive with contemporary fighters such as the Albatros D.Va and the Fokker D.VII.
Although only a few dozen airframes were built before the armistice halted further production, the Aviatik D.III demonstrated the firm’s capacity to integrate modern aerodynamic refinements and reliable powerplants. Its design experience fed into post‑war German engineering, influencing later biplane fighters and contributing to the evolution of streamlined, high‑performance aircraft that defined interwar aviation progress.
Although only a few dozen airframes were built before the armistice halted further production, the Aviatik D.III demonstrated the firm’s capacity to integrate modern aerodynamic refinements and reliable powerplants. Its design experience fed into post‑war German engineering, influencing later biplane fighters and contributing to the evolution of streamlined, high‑performance aircraft that defined interwar aviation progress.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1918
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Aviatik
- Engine
- Bz.IIIb
- Wikidata ID
- Q2874287