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

D.F.W. F 37
   A late 1918 product, the F 37 may have been the C VII, but this is not confirmed. After the war, a height record of 7,700 m. (25,255 ft.) was obtained when fitted with 260 h.p. B.M.W. IV engine. Engine, 220 h.p. Benz IVa. Span, 13.6 m. (44 ft. 7 1/2 in.). Length, 7.0 m. (22 ft. 1 5/8 in.). Height, 2.8 m. (9 ft. 2 1/4 in.). Area, 38 sq.m. (410.4 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 800 kg. (1,760 lb.). Loaded 1,230 kg. (2,706 lb.). Speed, 160 km.hr. (100 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 3 min.

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

DFW C.VII & P.1

   The next and last DFW two-seater design was the F 37, thought to have been designated the C.VII. The C.VII used the 220 hp Benz Bz.FVa installed in the C.VI to improve on the performance of the C.V The C.VII appears to have used the wing cellule tested in the C.VI although with the lower wingtips less rounded than those of the C.VI. The fuselage of the C.VII was more compact than the C.VI and a much larger rudder and fin were installed with different horizontal tail design, these changes being made to further improve maneuverability and handling qualities. In any case, the C.VII came too late to reach production or service.
   Postwar a C.VII prototype was fitted with a 320 hp BMW.IV engine as an engine test-bed. The engine name plate had the old designation BMW.IIIa to obtain the flight permit from the Allied Monitoring Commission. Leutnant Franz Zeno Diemer reached a record altitude of 9,920 m on May 9th, 1919, and on June 17, 1919; however, the record was not recognized by the FAI at that time.
   A postwar passenger conversion of the C.VII was also built. The resulting DFW P.1 had an enclosed cabin for two passengers in place of the observer's open cockpit. Photographs of aircraft D 187, the only P.1 built, are in this section. The Allied determination to destroy the German aviation industry as expressed in the terms of the Treaty of Versailles had the intended effect and DFW was soon put out of the aviation business.

DFW C-Type Specifications
DFW C.IV DFW C.V DFW C.VI DFW C.VII
Engine 150 hp Benz Bz.III 200 hp Benz Bz.IV 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa
Span, Upper 13.30 m 13.27 m 13.60 m 13.60 m
Span, Lower - 12.80 m - -
Chord, Upper - 1.75 m - -
Chord, Lower - 1.75 m - -
Gap - 1.80 m - -
Wing Area 42.2 m2 41.52 m2 - 38.0 m2
Length 7.90 m 7.88 m 7.50 m 7.0 m
Height 3.3 m 3.26 m - 2.8 m
Empty Weight 720 kg 1,027 kg - 800 kg
Loaded Weight 1,230 kg 1,477 kg - 1,230 kg
Maximum Speed 135 km/h 155 km/h - 160 km/h
Climb to 1,000m - 4.0 minutes - 3.0 minutes
Climb to 2,000m - 7.0 minutes - -
Climb to 3,000m - 15.0 minutes - -
Climb to 4,000m - 25.0 minutes - -
Climb to 5,000m - 40.0 minutes -

Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919

The latest D.F.W. biplane - Type C 37 III.
  
Specification
  
Span Upper plane, 13.27m.;
   Lower plane, 12.8 m.
Chord 1.75 m.
Maximum height 3.252 m.
Overall length 7.825 m.
Weight of machine empty 970 kgs.
Useful load 460 kgs.
Engine type and h.p. 200 h.p. Benz.
Performance
   Speed 144 k.p.h.
   Climb
   To 1,000 metres 4 mins
   To 2,000 metres 9 1/2 mins
   To 3,000 metres 16 1/2 mins
   To 5,000 metres 49 mins
Useful load 460 kgs.
Total weight of machine loaded 1,430 kg.