DFS 331
Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug · Germany · first flew 1940 · glider
The DFS 331 was a large German military transport glider developed in 1940 to carry troops and cargo. It was designed to operate as an unpowered assault glider towed by powered aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.81 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Large WWII German military cargo glider
- High-wing design with fixed undercarriage for troop/cargo delivery
A large high-wing glider with a boxy fuselage and fixed undercarriage; its high-aspect-ratio straight wing and unpowered configuration place it in the WWII assault glider category.
Specifications
- The DFS 331 has a length of 15.81 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23 m (75 ft).
- Typical crew: 2 pilots, up to 15 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug as a heavy-lift military glider, the DFS 331 flew in 1940 but was not selected for large-scale production. The competing Gotha Go 242 and Junkers Ju 322 programmes took priority, and the DFS 331 saw only limited evaluation.
Variants
The DFS 331 was built as a single prototype; no production variants were completed.
Where you'll see it
The DFS 331 did not enter operational service with the Luftwaffe, having been passed over in favour of other glider types.
Related aircraft
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