Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke
Pfalz D.VIII
The Pfalz D.VIII was a late‑World War I German fighter developed by Pfalz‑Flugzeugwerke in 1918 as the company’s answer to the need for a lightweight, high‑performance interceptor. Drawing on lessons from earlier biplanes such as the D.III and D.VII, the D.VIII was conceived as a single‑seat, single‑engine cantilever monoplane with a streamlined plywood monocoque fuselage. Powered by the 110 hp Oberursel Ur II rotary engine, it featured a narrow, tapered wing of 8 m span equipped with balanced ailerons that provided excellent roll rates, while the low‑drag fuselage contributed to a top speed of roughly 180 km/h (112 mph). Armament consisted of the standard twin synchronized LMG 08/15 machine guns mounted on the forward fuselage.
Only a handful of prototypes were completed before the armistice halted production, and the D.VIII never entered operational service. Nevertheless, its revolutionary monoplane layout and efficient construction foreshadowed the post‑war shift toward low‑wing, cantilever designs that would dominate the 1920s and beyond. The aircraft remains a notable example of Pfalz‑Flugzeugwerke’s innovative engineering spirit and its brief but influential contribution to the evolution of fighter aerodynamics.
Only a handful of prototypes were completed before the armistice halted production, and the D.VIII never entered operational service. Nevertheless, its revolutionary monoplane layout and efficient construction foreshadowed the post‑war shift toward low‑wing, cantilever designs that would dominate the 1920s and beyond. The aircraft remains a notable example of Pfalz‑Flugzeugwerke’s innovative engineering spirit and its brief but influential contribution to the evolution of fighter aerodynamics.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1918
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke
- Operator
-
Imperial German Air Service
- Wikidata ID
- Q324479