DFW B

The DFW B is a single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane produced by the German firm Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke (DFW) in the early 1920s. Developed as a follow‑up to the successful DFW C.V reconnaissance aircraft, the B entered service in 1922 as one of the first commercially viable light transport and training planes in post‑World War I Europe. Its wooden frame, fabric covering and a 240‑horsepower BMW IIIa inline engine gave it a top speed of 155 km/h and a range of 600 kilometers, while the spacious cabin could accommodate up to three passengers or an instructor with a pupil. The aircraft featured a fully controllable tailplane, balanced ailerons and a simple, robust fixed undercarriage that proved reliable on the uneven airstrips of the time. Because of its ease of handling and low operating costs, the DFW B was adopted by numerous German flying clubs, the Swedish Air Force and several colonial air services, helping to revive civil aviation after the war. Its design principles influenced later DFW models such as the DFW F.1 and set a benchmark for low‑cost, versatile aircraft in the interwar period.