Fokker D.III

The Fokker D.III (Fokker designation M.19) was a German single-seat fighter aircraft of World War I.

It saw limited frontline service before being withdrawn from combat in December 1916.

The M.19 began as an effort to improve the performance of the Fokker D.II (Fokker designation M.17).

The M.19 featured the Oberursel U.III 14-cylinder, two-row rotary engine, combined with the two-bay wing cellule of the Fokker D.I.

The U.III engine, first used in the Fokker E.IV, required a revised fore-and-aft mount and a strengthened fuselage.

The prototype M.19 arrived at Adlershof for testing on 20 July 1916. 

The Idflieg issued a production order for 50 aircraft at that time, followed by orders for an additional 60 aircraft in August and 100 in November.

The new aircraft was designated D.III by Idflieg.

210 were built.

Specifications

Crew

One pilot

Length

6.30 m (20 ft 8 in)

Wingspan

9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)

Height

2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)

Wing area

20.0 m2 (215 sq ft)

Empty weight

430 kg (948 lb)

Gross weight

710 kg (1,565 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Oberursel U.III,

120 kW (160 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed

160 km/h (100 mph, 87 kn)

Range

220 km (137 mi, 119 nmi)

Service ceiling

4,700 m (15,420 ft)

Rate of climb

4.8 m/s (940 ft/min)

Armament

2 × fixed 7.92 mm (.312 in) lMG 08 Spandau machine guns.