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

SCHUTTE-LANZ D III Germany

   Designed to participate in the first D-type contest organised by the Idflieg at Adlershof, which took place between 20 January and 12 February 1918, the D III was a conventional single-bay staggered biplane with N-type interplane struts. Armament comprised two 7,9-mm LMG 08/15 machine guns and power was provided by a 160 hp Mercedes D III six-cylinder inline water-cooled engine, an unusual feature being the use of an individual exhaust pipe for each cylinder, an aerofoil-shaped radiator being offset to port in the upper wing centre section. Of wooden construction with fabric skinning, the D III revealed an unspectacular performance, and, during the D-type contest, on 25 January, recorded climbing times of 3.0 min to 3,280 ft (1 000 m) and 31.9 min to 16,405 ft (5 000 m).

Max speed, 121 mph (195 km/h).
Loaded weight, 1,896 lb (860 kg).
Span, 26 ft 3 in (8,00 m).
Length, 21 ft 39/w in (6,50 m).


Schutte-Lanz Fighter Specifications
D.III D.IV D.VI D.VII
Engine 160 hp Mercedes D.III 195 hp Benz B.IIIbo V-8 160 hp Mercedes D.III 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIau
Span, m 8.0 9.0 10.8 9.0
Chord, upper, m 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5
Chord, lower, m 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2
Wing area, m2 20.0 23.3 23.7 24.3
Length, m 6.5 5.8 6.65 6.0
Height, m 3.1 2.963 2.64 3.1
Wt, empty, kg 645 710 800 630
Wt, loaded, kg 860 900 980 810
Max. speed, kmh 195 180
Climb, 1000 m 3.0 min 2.8 min
Climb, 2000 m 5.8 min
Climb, 3000 m 9.7 min
Climb, 4000 m 14.8 min
Climb, 5000 m 31.9 min 14 min 21.3 min
Climb, 6000 m 29.6 min
Climb, 7000 m 29.6 min
Climb, 8000 m 45.5 min
Ceiling, m 8000

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 2 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 85)

Luftfahrzeugbau Schutte-Lanz, Zeesen (SchuI)

Aircraft Development:

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  In 1916/17, the D.III and the D.IV followed in parallel.
  The D.III was a well-designed fighter biplane with wings of different vertical depths connected by V-braces, similar to the Nieuport 11, and a Mercedes D.III in-line engine fully enclosed to improve aerodynamics, which enabled the aircraft to fly at high speeds. Nevertheless, the flight characteristics were not convincing and no production took place.
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