The Pfalz Dr.II was a German triplane fighter prototype of World War I built by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke.

Pfalz Dr. II
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Pfalz Flugzeugwerke
First flight 1917
Primary user Luftstreitkräfte
Number built 2

Development edit

The Pfalz Dr.II was a lightweight development of the Dr.I with a reduced wing area. The first prototype had a 110 hp (81 kW) Oberursel Ur II engine, and the second prototype (Dr.IIa) used a Siemens-Halske Sh I engine, which developed the same power. However, the Dr.II did not enter production.[1][2]

List of operators edit

  German Empire

Specifications (Dr.IIa) edit

Data from Angelucci [3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
  • Height: 2.76 m (9 ft 1 in)
  • Wing area: 17.2 m2 (185 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 510 kg (1,124 lb)
  • Gross weight: 705 kg (1,554 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Siemens-Halske Sh.III 11 cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
  • Endurance: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 13.5 minutes

Armament

  • Guns: 2 x synchronised LMG 08/15 machine guns

References edit

  1. ^ "Pfalz Dr.I".
  2. ^ Treadwell, Terry, 2010. German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Manufacturers 1908-1918. Stroud: Amberley Publishing.
  3. ^ Angelucci 1983, p. 47.

Bibliography edit

  • Enzo Angelucci (1981). Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. Crescent. ISBN 978-0-517-41021-9.
  • William Green; Gordon Swanborough (1998-12-01). Complete Book of Fighters. ISBN 978-1-85833-777-7.
  • Herris, Jack (2012). Pfalz Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 5. Charleston, SC: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-12-4.