P.Grosz, G.Haddow, P.Shiemer Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One (Flying Machines)

Aviatik B.III Series 33

  The Aviatik B.III was designed in early 1915 by Karl Illner and Ingenieur Alfred Gassner, completely independent of help from the parent company in Germany. It did not prove successful at the Front. The production contract, signed on 9 April 1915, called for 25 aircraft with delivery to be completed in June 1915. Because of protracted engineering delays, the contract was cancelled and assigned to the Aviatik B.II series 34, a type then in production. The B.III was finally approved on 6 September 1915 when Flars ordered 28 aircraft powered by a 160 hp Daimler engine. An additional 24 aircraft were ordered on 20 April 1916. Delivery of the 52 B.III biplanes, numbered 33.01 to 33.52, was scheduled to be completed in May 1916.
  However, even after months of design effort, Aviatik proved incapable of demonstrating an acceptable production prototype. Flars directed Mises to provide assistance. In December 1915, an "experimental series 33 aircraft" using the Aviatik 30.01 airframe fitted with a Mises-designed wing was flight tested. When flown under ideal conditions, the B.III prototype was reported as being superior to the Aviatik B.II series 34. Nevertheless, Aviatik was penalized by Flars because the B.III production aircraft had failed to reach contractual performance specifications.
  Beginning February 1916, the B.III was assigned to Fliks 5, 10, 14, 20, 22 and 27 on the Eastern Front. Overweight and underpowered, the B.III proved to be sluggish, and in gusty weather the aircraft's pendulum behavior earned it the sobriquet of "rocking chair" by flight crews who regarded the type as "deplorable." The B.III did not last long at the Front, and in the summer of 1916 it was withdrawn and assigned to training service.
  The large cockpit that enabled the instructor to easily reach the flight controls, the gentle qualities and slow speed made the B.III an acceptable trainer. In fact, only one aircraft, 33.27, was fitted with dual controls. A total of 37 were assigned to Fleks 3, 4, 14, and 15 in July 1917. The B.III continued to train pilots through 1918 in decreasing numbers.

Aviatik B.III Series 33 Specifications
Engine: 160 hp Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 15.30 m (50.20 ft)
Span Lower 11.27 m (36.97 ft)
Chord Upper 2.10 m (6.89 ft)
Chord Lower 2.10 m (6.89 ft)
Sweepback Upper 6 deg
Gap 2.00 m (6.56 ft)
Total Wing Area 42.2 sq m (454 sq ft)
General: Length 9.40 m (30.84 ft)
Height 3.47 m (11.38 ft)
Track 2.20 m (7.22 ft)
Empty Weight 920 kg (2029 lb)
Loaded Weight 1357 kg (2992 lb)
Maximum Speed: 122 km/hr (76 mph)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 8 min 5 sec

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

30. Flugzeuge der Österreichischen Aviatik-Werke Wien, Stadlau
33.01 — 33.52 Aviatik B.III Dm 160