Photograph:
A Pfalz Dr.1 Triplane (Author’s collection)
Country of origin:
Germany
Description:
Single seat fighting scout
Power Plant:
One 119 kw (160 hp) Siemens Halske Sh III eleven-cylinder geared rotary engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.55 m (28 ft 0⅔ in)
- Length: 5.5 m (18 ft 0½ in)
- Height: 2.76 m (9 ft 0⅔ in)
- Wing area: 17.20 m² (185.14 sq ft)
- Max speed at 4,000 m (13,125 ft): 190 km/h (118 mph)
- Time to 5,000 m (16,405 ft): 13.5 mins
- Endurance: 1.5 hours
- Empty weight: 510 kg (1,124 lb)
- Loaded weight: 705 kg (1,554 lb)
Armament:
Two 7.62 mm (0.30 in) LMG08/15 fixed synchronised machine guns firing forward
History:
Following the interest, and some success, with triplanes by other manufacturers in Europe, Pfalz developed the Dr.1 Triplane, the prototype of which was powered by a 119 kw (160 hp) Siemens Halske Sh III geared rotary engine. This engine was unusual in that the crankcase rotated in one direction and the crankshaft in the other, and thus its development was somewhat protracted. The new aircraft underwent type trials in October 1917. Performance and handling were found to be sufficient to warrant an order for the construction of ten pre-production aircraft for evaluation on the Western Front. However, once in service trials by service pilots revealed the Dr.1 was too slow and the engine installed was not sufficiently reliable for service use. No further examples were completed.
The Pfalz concern first commenced construction of licence-built designs by French company Morane Saulnier, these being the Type L and Type H, these becoming known as the Pfalz E series. It soon moved to licence production of Roland designed fighters, and later on commenced building fighters of its own design, building a number of successful designs and producing a number of biplane and triplane prototypes as development proceeded.
The Dr.1 was derived from the Pfalz D.VIII (one prototype only built) biplane, the new design triplane being noted for the three wings having different chords, the middle wing having a very narrow chord, this being to provide better visibility for the pilot. The fuselage was of monocoque construction. Due to the diameter of the propeller, a long undercarriage was required. It is not known if any of the pre-production aircraft in fact saw combat.
One Dr.1 (3050/17) is known to have been tested on one occasion by Manfred von Richthofen in December 1917 when he made a visit to the Pfalz manufacturing plant. It seems all aircraft completed were painted in silver dope. Of the many triplane designs that came out of Germany at the time, only the Pfalz Dr.1 came near the performance and agility of the Fokker Dr.1. The Pfalz was able to out-climb the Fokker aircraft, but was also more complex and labour intensive to build. A replica of a Pfalz Triplane has been imported to New Zealand. It is expected after restoration it will join the collection of World War I aircraft at the Heritage Centre at Omaka near Blenheim.