O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Schutte-Lanz D IV
   Unfinished airframe of D IV shows ply-covered fuselage. It has not been established if the aircraft was ever completed.


Schutte-Lanz D VII
   Completed during 1918, the D VII was the last of the Schutte-Lanz fighters. A development of the D III, the wing cellule was largely the same, with the same dihedral arrangement. Ailerons were now additionally fitted to the lower wingtips to improve lateral control. The radiator was a car-type component fitted on the extreme nose of the plywood-covered fuselage. This machine competed in the mid-summer D types Competition and, piloted by Nestler, at a loaded weight of 926.3 kg. (2,038 lb.) it climbed 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 3.1 min. and 5,000 m. (16,400 ft.) in 34.8 min. Engine, 180h.p. Mercedes D IIIa. Armament, twin Spandau machine-guns.

W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

SCHUTTE-LANZ D IV Germany

   Built in parallel with the D III, but possessing no commonality, the D IV was powered by a 220 hp Benz Bz IIIbo eight-cylinder Vee-type water-cooled engine and carried an armament of two 7,9-mm LMG 08/15 machine guns. Of wooden construction, it was a single-bay staggered biplane with N-type interplane struts and ailerons on both upper and lower mainplanes. Flown late in 1917, the D IV was found to posses a performance inferior to that of the D III and was therefore withdrawn as a contender in the D-type contest. A second prototype, the D IVa, differed in having a frontal radiator for the Benz engine, shallower underside fuselage contours which did not project below the lower wing, a redesigned undercarriage and revised cabane struts. A further development of the basic design, the D V, was intended to be powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D III engine fitted with a Brown Boveri compressor. Difficulties with this compressor resulted in work on the D V being discontinued by May 1918.

Time to 16,405 ft (5 000 m), 14.0 min.
Empty weight, 1,532 lb (695 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,951 lb (885 kg).
Span, 29 ft 6 1/3 in (9,00 m).
Length, 19 ft 0 1/4 in (5,80 m).
Wing area, 247.15 sqft (22,96 m2).


SCHUTTE-LANZ D VII Germany

   A progressive development of the basic D III design, the D VII was completed in time to compete in the second D-type contest (27 May - 28 June 1918). Powered by a Mercedes D IIIavu six-cylinder water-cooled engine of 180 hp with a frontal, automobile-type radiator, the D VII was of wooden construction with a plywood-covered fuselage, the wing cellule being essentially similar to that of the earlier fighter, but having ailerons also on the lower wing for improved lateral control. Armament comprised twin 7,9-mm LMG 08/15 machine guns. Three prototypes of the D VII were ordered, the first of these entering flight test in May 1918. This type did not display a particularly outstanding performance during the D-type contest, but flight testing was continuing at the time of the Armistice.

Max speed, 112 mph (180 km/h).
Time to 3,280 ft (1000 m), 2.4 min, to 16,405 ft (5 000 m), 31.6 min.
Endurance, 1.5 hrs.
Empty weight, 1,631 lb (740 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,028 lb (920 kg).
Span, 29 ft 6 1/3 in (9,00 m).
Length, 19 ft 8 1/4in (6,00 m).

J.Herris German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WW1. Vol II (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 50)

Schutte-Lanz D.IV
  
   The D.IV was built in parallel with the D.III but the pair had no commonality. No photographs of the completed aircraft are known to exist. Flown in late 1917, the D.IV was inferior to the D.III in performance and was withdrawn from the fighter competition. A further prototype, the D.IVa had a frontal radiator, a revised undercarriage, and shallower fuselage.


Schutte-Lanz D.VII

   Schutte-Lanz returned to the Second Fighter Competition with two designs, the Dr.I triplane development of the D.III, the last triplane submitted to a competition, and the D.VII powered by a 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIau. Both types were conventional designs of average performance and neither was selected for production or further development.


Schutte-Lanz Fighter Specifications
D.III D.IV D.VI D.VII
Engine 160 hp Mercedes D.III 195 hp Benz B.IIIbo V-8 160 hp Mercedes D.III 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIau
Span, m 8.0 9.0 10.8 9.0
Chord, upper, m 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5
Chord, lower, m 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2
Wing area, m2 20.0 23.3 23.7 24.3
Length, m 6.5 5.8 6.65 6.0
Height, m 3.1 2.963 2.64 3.1
Wt, empty, kg 645 710 800 630
Wt, loaded, kg 860 900 980 810
Max. speed, kmh 195 180
Climb, 1000 m 3.0 min 2.8 min
Climb, 2000 m 5.8 min
Climb, 3000 m 9.7 min
Climb, 4000 m 14.8 min
Climb, 5000 m 31.9 min 14 min 21.3 min
Climb, 6000 m 29.6 min
Climb, 7000 m 29.6 min
Climb, 8000 m 45.5 min
Ceiling, m 8000