DFW C.III
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke (DFW) · Germany · first flew 1916 · reconnaissance aircraft
The DFW C.III was a German two-seat armed reconnaissance biplane of World War I, an incremental development of the DFW C.II featuring improved performance and defensive armament.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI two-bay biplane with slightly staggered wings
- Observer's Parabellum gun ring in rear cockpit
- Inline six-cylinder engine, rounded nose cowl
Two-bay biplane with moderate stagger, rounded nose, and symmetrical tail. Distinguished from DFW C.II by slightly longer fuselage and modified cowling. Observer's gun ring visually differentiates it from unarmed earlier C-types.
Specifications
- The DFW C.III has a length of 8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.27 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 150 km/h (93 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke produced a series of C-type reconnaissance aircraft throughout WWI. The C.III appeared in 1916 with a more powerful engine and a Parabellum MG in the rear cockpit. It served alongside similar Albatros and LVG types in Feldflieger-Abteilungen on multiple fronts before being superseded by the more capable DFW C.V.
Variants
C.III (reconnaissance); DFW C.V was the more widely produced successor.
Where you'll see it
Front-line service 1916–1917 with the German Imperial Air Service. Replaced progressively by C.V from late 1916.
Related aircraft
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