Schutte-Lanz D.VII
Schutte-Lanz · Germany · first flew 1918 · fighter
The Schutte-Lanz D.VII was a single-engine biplane fighter designed and built in Germany towards the end of World War I.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with N-form interplane struts
- Dihedral on the upper wing only, with slight stagger
- Car-type rectangular nose radiator in front of the Mercedes engine
The fuselage is flat-sided and plywood covered with a rounded decking. The single open cockpit sits at the wing trailing edges, both of which have cut-outs to aid the pilot's vision.
Specifications
- The Schutte-Lanz D.VII has a length of 6 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a development of the Schutte-Lanz D.III, which had taken part in the first D-type competition in January 1918. It had longer-span wings, more effective ailerons and a 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIavu engine, and first flew in May 1918.
Variants
Three prototypes were built. Both wings of the D.VII are of equal span with narrower lower chords.
Where you'll see it
The D.VII was ready for the second D-type competition but its competition performance was disappointing. The three prototypes continued development testing up to the Armistice in November.
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