В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны

"ПФАЛЬЦ" E.III / PFALZ E.III
  
   Основанная в 1913 году южногерманская фирма "Пфальц Флюгцойгверк" начала свою деятельность с лицензионного копирования французских двухместных аэропланов "Моран-Солнье" типов H (среднеплан) и L (моноплан-парасоль) с 80-сильными ротативными моторами "Оберурсель" U.O. Первый из них получил в Германии обозначение "Пфальц" E.I, а второй - "Пфальц" A.I. Те же машины, оснащенные 100-сильными двигателями "Оберурсель" U.I, назывались, соответственно, "Пфальц" E.II и А.II. Выпуск этих машин продолжался в 1914 и 1915 годах. На раннем этапе Мировой войны они применялись для разведки и аэрофотосъемки.
   Обозначение E.III носил оснащенный синхронным пулеметом парасоль A.II. Этот аппарат также строился малой серией и поступал в войска.

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

Pfalz A I
   Used for reconnaissance purposes during the early months of the war, the parasol-winged Pfalz A I was no more than a copy of the Morane-Saulnier Type L, which had been manufactured under licence before the war. Of interest are the two celluloid panels in the fuselage sides to give added visibility from the cockpit. Engine, 80 h.p. Oberursel U O. Span, 11.2 m. (36 ft. 9 in.). Length, 6.9 m. (22 ft. 7 3/4 in.). Height, 3.4 m. (11 ft. 1 7/8 in.). Area, 18 sq.m. (194 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 365 kg. (803 lb.). Loaded 595 kg. (1,309 lb.). Speed, ca. 135 km.hr. (84.35 m.p.h.). Climb, 800 m. (2,624 ft.) in 6 min. Duration, 4 hr.
   N.B. A single aircraft, fitted with 100 h.p. Oberursel engine, was designated A II and was developed into E III.

Pfalz E III
   The Pfalz E III of 1915 was simply an armed, single-seat version of the A II, a Spandau gun being fitted to fire through the propeller. It is improbable that many were built. Engine, 100 h.p. Oberursel U I. Span, 11.2 m. (36 ft. 9 in.), length, 6.85 m. (22 ft. 5 3/4 in.). Height, 3.4 m. (11 ft. 1 7/8 in.). Area, 18 sq.m. (194 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 445 kg. (979 lb.). Loaded, 705 kg. (1,551 lb.). Speed, ca. 150 km.hr. (93.75 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 3 min. Armament, one fixed Spandau machine-gun.

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

PFALZ E III Germany
  
   The Morane-Saulnier Type L parasol monoplane two-seater, for which the Pfalz Flugzeug-Werke acquired a manufacturing licence in 1914, was built primarily for the reconnaissance and training roles as the A I and A II with the 80 hp Oberursel U 0 and 100 hp Oberursel U I rotaries respectively, 60 being delivered during 1914-15. In 1915, the rear seat and gun mounting were removed, a single synchronised LMG 08/15 machine gun was mounted ahead of the cockpit, and, with the 100 hp U I engine, the modified aircraft was produced in small numbers as the E III fighter. Although having a rate of climb superior to that of the E II, the E III was considered as essentially an interim type and the largest number of these fighters at the Front at any one time was eight (June 1916).

Max speed, 95mph (153 km/h).
Time to 3,280 ft (1000 m), 3.0 min.
Endurance, 2.0 hrs.
Empty weight, 981 lb (445 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,554 lb (705 kg).
Span, 36 ft 9 in (11,20 m).
Length, 22 ft 5 3/4 in (6,85m).
Height, 11 ft 1 7/8 in (3,40 m).
Wing area, 193.76 sq ft (18,00 m2).

J.Herris Pfalz Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 5)

Pfalz Parasol (Pfalz A.I & A.II)

   Pfalz wanted to built a better-performing aircraft than the Otto pusher, and in February 1914 obtained a license from the French Morane-Saulnier company to build their Type H and Type L monoplanes under license. The Morane-Saulnier Type H became the basis for the Pfalz E-type fighters, while the Type L was built as the Pfalz Parasol.
   When the war began production of approximately 20, later expanded to 60, Pfalz Parasols, exact copies of the Type L, was underway for the Bavarian air service. The first two were delivered in December 1914. Initially, the Pfalz Parasols were used for reconnaissance and occasional nuisance bombing with improvised weapons; when they became obsolete in that role, the remaining machines were used as trainers. These aircraft were given the Bavarian military serial numbers P1 to P61, except P59. P59 was a modified aircraft, the Halb-Parasol single-seater. Yet another was modified with biplane wings.
   Most Pfalz parasols were powered by a 7-cylinder, 80 hp Oberursel U.O rotary engine, but a few used the 9-cylinder, 100 hp Oberursel U.I engine. Later these types were retroactively designated Pfalz A.I and A.II, respectively.


Bombing the Italians in the Alps

   One notable exploit of the Pfalz parasol was its use in bombing Italian Alpine positions on July 31, 1915 - before Germany was formally at war with Italy! The aircraft involved were painted in simulated Austro-Hungarian markings to obscure their true identity. Ltn. Otto Kissenberth of Feldflieger-Abteilung 9b, later to become a noted fighter ace and winner of the Pour le Merite, was one pilot involved. For this action the observer was left behind to save weight and five 10 kg Carbonit bombs were carried instead. A good climb rate and ceiling were vital because the Italian troops, at elevations as high as 2,500m in the Alps, subjected the aircraft to intensive ground fire.
  

Pfalz P59 Halb Parasol

   The single-seat Pfalz P 59 Halb Parasol was an experimental type designed to achieve unrestricted visibility above and below the wing. It may have been intended as a single-seat fighter, but was not developed further. Perhaps the win, location, at eye level, was not popular with pilots. The Halb Parasol made use of some Pfalz E.II structural components which points to a construction date between late 1915 and early 1916.


Pfalz E.III

   Like the E.II, the Pfalz E.III was also powered by a 9-cylinder, 100 hp Oberursel U.I engine, but was an armed version of the Pfalz A.II (license-built Morane-Saulnier Type L) parasol. All the Pfalz E.III fighters may have been conversions of existing Pfalz A.II reconnaissance aircraft. Few Pfalz E.IIIs were converted; its speed matched the E.II but the climb was not as good as the E.I. Furthermore, since the E.III was a larger, heavier aircraft than the E.I or E.II, it was not as maneuverable. The maximum number of Pfalz E.IIIs at the front reached eight in June 1916.


Pfalz Parasol Production Orders
Order Date Quantity Serial Numbers
1914 61 P 1 to P61
  
Pfalz Parasol (A.I) Specifications
Engine: 80 hp Oberursel U.O
Wing: Span 11.20 m
Area 18 sq m
General: Length 6.90 m
Height 3.40 m
Empty Weight 365 kg
Loaded Weight 585 kg
Maximum Speed: 135 kmh
Climb: 2000m 15 min
3000m 30 min

Pfalz Parasol (A.II) Specifications
Engine: 100 hp Oberursel U.l
Wing: Span 11.20 m
Area 18 sq m
General: Length 6.90 m
Height 3.40 m
Empty Weight 420 kg
Loaded Weight 674 kg
Maximum Speed: 150 kmh
Climb: 2000m 12 min
3000m 25 min


Pfalz E.III Specifications
Engine: 100 hp Oberursel U.I
Wing: Span 11.20 m
Area 18.0 sq m
General: Length 6.85 m
Height 3.40 m
Empty Weight 445 kg
Loaded Weight 705 kg
Maximum Speed: 150 kmh
Climb: 1000m 3 min
2000m 11 min
3000m 23 min