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

DFW T 28 FLOH Germany

   Designed in late 1915 by Dipl Ing Hermann Dorner, newly appointed as chief engineer of the Deutsche Flugzeugwerke GmbH (DFW) of Leipzig-Lindenthal, the T 28 Floh (Flea) was, in appearance, one of the most extraordinary single-seat biplane fighter prototypes tested during World War I. Built under the supervision of Ing Theo Rockenfeller at DFW’s Lubeck-Travemunde subsidiary, the T 28 featured an inordinately deep fuselage in which the 100 hp Mercedes D I six-cylinder water-cooled engine was completely buried. Of wooden construction with fabric-covered wings and wood veneer skinning for the fuselage, the T 28 carried a single machine gun in the forward fuselage above the engine. During the maiden flight a speed of 112 mph (180 km/h) was attained - a noteworthy accomplishment at the time - but minor damage resulted during the landing. Some modifications were made, including the introduction of aerodynamically-balanced elevators, but the authorities evinced no interest in the aircraft and further development of the T 28 was abandoned in consequence.

Max speed, (approx) 112 mph (180 km/h).
Empty weight, 926 lb (420 kg).
Loaded weight,1,433 lb (650 kg).
Span, 20 ft 4 in (6,20 m).
Length 14 ft 9 in (4,50 m).
Height, 7 ft 6 1/2 in (2,30 m).
Wing area, 161.46 sq ft (15,00 m2).

J.Herris DFW Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 29)

DFW Floh (Flea)
  
   For some reason the T 28 Floh was designed and built at DFW's facility at Lubeck-Travemunde where the DFW flight school was located. Diplom-Ingenieur Hermann Dorner, DFW's new lead engineer, proposed the aircraft in 1915 and Ingenieur Theo Rockenfeller led the detail design and construction.
   The motivation for the T 28 was to produce a much faster fighter than the Fokker Eindeckers then in combat, and great attention to streamlining to minimize drag coupled with light weight was seen as the solution. An airfoil radiator was fitted in the upper left wing and gravity fuel tanks in both upper wings. The airfoil was comparatively thick and the leading edge was covered in thin plywood as was the fuselage. Control cables were internal to the structure. The pilot had an excellent field of view upward but not downward and forward, which made landing difficult.
   When the Floh was demonstrated to the Army, the officials decided it was too fast (!) and especially that the landing speed was too high.


DFW Fighter Specifications
DFW Floh DFW D.l DFW Dr.I DFW D.II
Engine 100 hp Mercedes D.l 160 hp Mercedes D.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III 170 hp Mercedes D.IIIa
Span, Upper 6.5 m - - 9.08 m
Wing Area - - - 23.00 m2
Length 4.5 m - - 5.5 m
Empty Weight 352 kg - - 639 kg
Loaded Weight 596 kg - - 819 kg
Maximum Speed 180 km/h - - 177 km/h
Climb to 4,000m - - - 10 minutes
Armament One gun Two guns Two guns Two guns