Zeppelin-Lindau D.I
Zeppelin · Germany · first flew 1918 · fighter
The Zeppelin-Lindau D.I was a remarkably advanced all-metal biplane fighter designed by Claude Dornier for the Imperial German Navy, representing a significant leap over the fabric-covered fighters of its era. It appeared in the final months of World War I.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.37 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- All-metal Duralumin biplane fighter
- Advanced all-metal biplane for the WWI era
- Too late for World War I service
An unusually clean all-metal biplane with a smooth metal skin, standing out sharply from the fabric-covered fighters of its contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Zeppelin-Lindau D.I has a length of 6.37 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.8 m (26 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed at the Zeppelin works at Lindau by Claude Dornier, the D.I featured a stressed-skin Duralumin construction and a thick cantilever wing — concepts decades ahead of their time. Only two prototypes were completed before the Armistice ended the war.
Variants
Only two prototypes were built; the design had no production variants but directly influenced Dornier's subsequent monoplane work.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; both prototypes were surrendered to the Allies after the November 1918 Armistice.
Related aircraft
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