Pfalz D.VIII
Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke · German Empire · first flew 1918 · fighter
The Pfalz D.VIII was a German biplane fighter of 1918, a compact single-seater powered by a rotary engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Compact single-seat biplane only 5.65 m long
- Siemens-Halske Sh.III rotary engine driving a four-blade propeller
- Twin 7.92 mm Spandau machine guns
A small biplane with a rotary engine in a round cowling and a four-blade propeller; it is shorter than most German fighters of the time.
Specifications
- The Pfalz D.VIII has a length of 5.65 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.52 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 190 km/h (118 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Approved for production in 1918 as part of German efforts to develop superior fighters, the D.VIII used a Siemens-Halske Sh.III rotary that gave a top speed of about 190 km/h. Forty were completed, but as this was very close to the end of the war they were used mostly for evaluation.
Variants
Prototypes flew with alternative engines, the Oberursel U.III and Goebel Goe.III; the production type used the Sh.III.
Where you'll see it
The Pfalz D.VIII did not see significant front-line service.
Related aircraft
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