Fokker D.III

The Fokker D.III was a single‑seat German fighter built by the Dutch firm Fokker during World War I. First flown in early 1917, it entered service with the Imperial German Air Service in the spring of that year, supplementing the earlier D.I and D.II types. The aircraft retained the characteristic Fokker design of a rotary‑engine layout, a welded steel tube fuselage and cantilever wings covered with fabric, but it incorporated a revised wing bracing system that reduced drag and improved climb performance. Powered by the 110 hp Oberursel U.II rotary engine, the D.III reached a top speed of about 170 km/h (106 mph) and could attain a service ceiling of 5,500 m. Its armament consisted of two synchronized LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns, giving pilots a reliable forward‑firing capability. Although production numbers were modest—roughly 150 aircraft were built—the D.III demonstrated the practical benefits of a streamlined airframe and contributed to the rapid evolution of fighter design. The type’s handling qualities and incremental performance gains helped pave the way for later, more advanced Fokker fighters such as the celebrated D.VII, cementing Fokker’s reputation as a leading innovator in early military aviation.

Fokker

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification