Pfalz D.VI

The Pfalz D.VI was a German single‑seat fighter developed late in World War I by Pfalz‑Flugzeugwerke, a subsidiary of the larger Pfalz aircraft company. First flown in early 1918, the D.VI was intended to replace earlier Pfalz types such as the D.III and D.IIIa, offering improved maneuverability and a more powerful engine. It retained the conventional biplane layout but featured a streamlined, plywood‑covered fuselage and equal‑span wings with a slightly greater aspect ratio, which reduced drag and enhanced climb performance. Powered by the 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIaü inline engine, the aircraft could reach a top speed of about 200 km/h (124 mph) and was armed with two synchronized LMG 08/15 machine guns. Although only a few dozen examples reached the front lines before the Armistice, the D.VI demonstrated the potential of refined aerodynamics combined with reliable powerplants. Its design philosophy influenced later German fighters, particularly the emphasis on clean lines and structural efficiency that appeared in the post‑war RS‑14 and early inter‑war designs. Consequently, the Pfalz D.VI occupies a modest but notable place in aviation history as a transitional model bridging early biplane concepts and the more advanced fighters of the 1920s.

Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke

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Design & Classification