DFW Dr.I

The DFW Dr.I was a German single‑seat fighter prototype built by Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke (DFW) toward the end of World War I. Developed in early 1918 as a response to the reputation of the Fokker Dr.I triplane, the DFW version featured a compact wooden fuselage, a sesquiplane wing arrangement with a small lower wing and a slightly staggered upper wing, and was powered by the 110 hp Oberursel rotary engine. Flight testing began in March 1918 at the DFW factory in Halberstadt, where pilots praised its maneuverability and rapid climb, but noted insufficient structural rigidity and a tendency to overheat during extended combat. Only three airframes were completed before the Armistice halted further production. Although the Dr.I never entered operational service, its design experiments contributed to DFW’s later biplane fighters, particularly the DFW C.VII, and demonstrated the firm’s willingness to explore unconventional configurations. The aircraft remains a notable footnote in aviation history, illustrating the rapid innovation and intense competition among German manufacturers during the final months of the Great War. A single surviving example is displayed at the German Aviation Museum in Berlin, where it serves as a tangible reminder of the experimental spirit that characterized late‑war aircraft development.