Schütte-Lanz D types
The Schütte-Lanz DI to D.VII were combat single -seaters in the German air force in the First World War .
development
The Schütte-Lanz company , which was mainly involved in the construction of airships until 1918 , also developed some types of aircraft at its plant in Zeesen in Brandenburg .
The DI was created in 1915 as a replica of the successful British Sopwith Tabloid as the first German combat biplane, but was underestimated as a fighter and rejected because the monoplane was considered a more suitable fighter because of the better visibility for the pilot. Their planned further development to the D.II with a more powerful 100 hp Mercedes in- line engine was therefore canceled.
In 1916/17 the D.III and the D.IV followed in parallel . The D.III was an elegant hunting biplane with wings of different depths connected by V-struts - similar to the Nieuport 11 - and a Mercedes D-III in-line engine that was fully enclosed to improve aerodynamics and enabled the aircraft to fly at high speeds. Nevertheless, the flight characteristics could not convince and there was no production. The D.IV with 220 hp Benz-Bz-III engine showed even weaker performance; only two prototypes of her were made.
The planned further development to the DV was waived because the over-compressed Mercedes D IIIavü was not available. On a trial basis, the D.III also became the prototype of a three-decker , the Dr. I built.
Developed in 1917, the D.VI with a 160 hp Mercedes D-III engine was a mixture between an umbrella deck and a one and a half decker, the wing of which was supported by wide, wing-like struts. A prototype was built in 1918, but it was placed on a wing during its first flight on May 29, 1918 and was almost completely damaged in the process.
The D.VII eventually reverted to the concept of the D.III. Three prototypes were built by her, which were still being tested at the end of the war.
commitment
Little is known about the use of the Schütte-Lanz-D aircraft. However, there is evidence of the use of the DI in the Navy.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | DI | D.III | Dr.I | D.IV | D.VI | D.VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction year | 1915 | 1917 | 1918 | |||
| Intended use | Fighter plane | |||||
| crew | 1 | |||||
| length | 5.40 m | 6.50 m | 6.26 m | 5.80 m | 6.51 m | 6.00 m |
| span | 7.50 m | 8.00 m | 9.00 m | 10.80 m | 9.00 m | |
| height | ||||||
| Wing area | 22.96 m² | |||||
| Empty mass | 695 kg | 740 kg | ||||
| Takeoff mass | 860 kg | 900 kg | 885 kg | 920 kg | ||
| engine |
Rotary motor Oberursel U 0.80 PS (59 kW) |
Mercedes D III , 160 PS (118 kW) |
Benz Bz III , 220 hp (162 kW) |
Mercedes D III, 160 PS (118 kW) |
Mercedes D IIIavü, 180 PS (132 kW) |
|
| Top speed | 135 km / h | 195 km / h | 180 km / h | |||
| Climbing time to 1000 m | ||||||
| Service ceiling | ||||||
| Range | ||||||
| Flight duration | 1:30 h | |||||
| Armament | 2 MG | 2 MG | ||||
See also
literature
- Heinz Nowarra : The Development of Airplanes 1914–1918. Lehmanns, Munich 1959.
- Heinz Nowarra: Iron Cross and Balkenkreuz. The markings of the German aircraft 1914–1918. Hoffmann, Mainz 1968.
Web links
- Summary (engl.)