The Friedrichshafen D.I (company designation Friedrichshafen FF.46) was a German single-seat fighter plane developed by the Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen during the First World War. Two prototypes were flown in 1917, but it was judged inferior to the Albatros D.III then in production and no further production ensued.
D.I
Postcard of the first prototype of the Friedrichshafen D.I circa 1917
The Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen aircraft manufacturing company, after having failed to sell the FF.43 fighterfloatplane to the Imperial German Navy's (Kaiserliche Marine) Naval Air Service (Marine-Fliegerabteilung) in 1916, modified its design for land service in an attempt to sell it to the German Army's (Deutsches Heer) Inspectorate of Flying Troops (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen) (Idflieg). The Army accepted Friedrichshafen's proposal in September and ordered three prototypes, only two of which are known to have been completed.[1]
Although the D.I was developed from the FF.43, they did not share any components. The D.I replaced the floats with a conventional landing gear arrangement, but retained its predecessor's single-bay, staggered-wing design, 160 hp (120 kW) Mercedes D.IIIstraight-six engine and its pair of synchronised 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns. The two prototypes known to have been built differed only in the cabanes securing the upper wing to the fuselage; the first aircraft had vertical cabanes while the second had ones that were angled outwards for better pilot visibility.[2]
The two prototypes were tested by Idflieg until 28 April 1917, revealing that they possessed flight characteristics and performance inferior to that of the Albatross D.III, so it did not order the D.I into production and the project was abandoned. Idflieg did not retain performance data for aircraft that it did not accept.[1]
Specificationsedit
Data from The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown[3]
Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon (2001) [1994]. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown (Revised and Updated ed.). London: Salamander Books. ISBN1-84065-269-1.
Herris, Jack (2016). Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 21. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-35-3.
January 01, 1970
friedrichshafen, company, designation, friedrichshafen, german, single, seat, fighter, plane, developed, flugzeugbau, friedrichshafen, during, first, world, prototypes, were, flown, 1917, judged, inferior, albatros, then, production, further, production, ensue. The Friedrichshafen D I company designation Friedrichshafen FF 46 was a German single seat fighter plane developed by the Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen during the First World War Two prototypes were flown in 1917 but it was judged inferior to the Albatros D III then in production and no further production ensued D I Postcard of the first prototype of the Friedrichshafen D I circa 1917 Role Fighter Manufacturer Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen First flight 1917 Status Prototype only Primary user Luftstreitkrafte Number built 2 Developed from Friedrichshafen FF 43 Contents 1 Background and description 2 Specifications 3 See also 4 References 5 BibliographyBackground and description editThe Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen aircraft manufacturing company after having failed to sell the FF 43 fighter floatplane to the Imperial German Navy s Kaiserliche Marine Naval Air Service Marine Fliegerabteilung in 1916 modified its design for land service in an attempt to sell it to the German Army s Deutsches Heer Inspectorate of Flying Troops Inspektion der Fliegertruppen Idflieg The Army accepted Friedrichshafen s proposal in September and ordered three prototypes only two of which are known to have been completed 1 Although the D I was developed from the FF 43 they did not share any components The D I replaced the floats with a conventional landing gear arrangement but retained its predecessor s single bay staggered wing design 160 hp 120 kW Mercedes D III straight six engine and its pair of synchronised 7 92 mm 0 312 in LMG 08 15 Spandau machine guns The two prototypes known to have been built differed only in the cabanes securing the upper wing to the fuselage the first aircraft had vertical cabanes while the second had ones that were angled outwards for better pilot visibility 2 The two prototypes were tested by Idflieg until 28 April 1917 revealing that they possessed flight characteristics and performance inferior to that of the Albatross D III so it did not order the D I into production and the project was abandoned Idflieg did not retain performance data for aircraft that it did not accept 1 Specifications editData from The Complete Book of Fighters An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown 3 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 7 1 m 23 ft 4 in Wingspan 9 m 29 ft 6 in Height 2 7 m 8 ft 10 in Wing area 25 8 m2 278 sq ft Empty weight 686 kg 1 512 lb Gross weight 901 kg 1 986 lb Powerplant 1 Mercedes D III water cooled straight six piston engine 120 kW 160 hp Propellers 2 bladed Performance Armament Guns 2 fixed forward firing 7 92 mm 0 312 in LMG 08 15 machine gunsSee also editRelated lists List of military aircraft of GermanyReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Friedrichshafen 1917 D type a b Herris p 262 Herris pp 262 264 Green amp Swanborough p 235Bibliography editGreen William amp Swanborough Gordon 2001 1994 The Complete Book of Fighters An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown Revised and Updated ed London Salamander Books ISBN 1 84065 269 1 Herris Jack 2016 Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes Great War Aviation Centennial Series Vol 21 n p Aeronaut Books ISBN 978 1 935881 35 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Friedrichshafen D I amp oldid 1143288012, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
