J.Herris German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WW1. Vol I (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 49)

Daimler G.III (584-1916)

   The Daimler G.III was powered by two 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa engines buried in the fuselage. Once again Schopper was the designer, a fact difficult to understand in view of his consistent record of designing bombers with poor performance and poor to dangerous flying qualities. The internal engines were coupled together and drove two tractor propellers via drive shafts and gears. The vertical tail was similar to that of the G.II.
   As originally built, the bulky G.III had a tricycle landing gear and a huge block radiator mounted above the nose to facilitate flight trials. Taxi trials were initiated on July 17, 1917, and the next day test pilot Irrek made the first flight. A number of test flights followed, many of short duration which indicated problems. After a flight on September 8 the G.III was grounded for more than a month for either repairs or modifications. A duration flight was made on October 16 with full load and a crew of three; cruise speed was 120 km/h but the aircraft was very tail-heavy, making longitudinal stability marginal. Irrek thought the relatively short fuselage contributed to inadequate directional stability as well. Different wings were to be fitted to improve flying qualities, but it is not clear the aircraft was flown after this major modification. Daimler was too busy with building and testing Friedrichshafen bombers it was building under license to invest more resources on the G.III, which was regarded as too heavy due to the central drive system. Daimler G.III development was stopped, leaving its designer Schopper with a record unblemished by success.