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| Flown for the first time in November 1917, the first prototype
D.III was powered by an ungeared Benz Bz Illbo
eight-cylinder Vee engine rated at 195hp, was of mixed
construction with a steel-tube forward fuselage, plywood
fuselage skinning and fabric wing skinning, and
carried an armament of twin synchronised 7.92mm
LMG 08/15 machine guns. A distinguishing feature
was provided by a small, keel-like extension beneath
the fuselage which served to increase the wing gap.
Initial Typen-Prüfung was performed at Adlershof
during 9-12 February 1918, and after modifications by
Aviatik, the D.III was returned to Adlershof in April for
resumption of type testing, together with a second prototype
powered by a geared Bz Illbm engine. By this
time a small series of Bz Illbo-powered D.Ills was under
construction for service test and evaluation. Performance
of the D.III was considered to be superior to that of
the Albatros D.V although no details have apparently
survived other than those relating to climb tests conducted
in March 1918 with the Bz Illbo-powered first
prototype.
W.Green, D.Swanborough "The Complete Book of Fighters", 2000
 | A three-view drawing (1280 x 942) |
| MODEL | Aviatik D.III |
| CREW | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 x 195hp Benz Bz IIIbo |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 864 kg | 1905 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 9.00 m | 30 ft 6 in |
| Length | 8.47 m | 28 ft 9 in |
| Height | 3.08 m | 10 ft 1 in |
| Wing area | 21.00 m2 | 226.04 sq ft |
| ARMAMENT | 2 x 7.92mm |
| Anonymous, 18.04.2021 15:53 One might speculate that the main problem with this aircraft may have been the engine. None of the aircraft fitted with the Benz Bz III series of engines were accepted for production. Unlike the more famous Mercedes D III straight-six engines used on numerous German aircraft, such as the Fokker D VII, the 195-hp Benz was a liquid-cooled V-8, inspired by the French Hispano-Suiza 8A, but it was never successful. reply |
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