Schütte-Lanz D.I
| D.I | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Schütte-Lanz |
| Designer | Walter Stein |
| Primary user | Luftstreitkräfte |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1915 |
| Introduction date | never |
| First flight | 1915 |
The Schütte-Lanz D.I was a German single-seat biplane fighter, often said to be Germany's first biplane attack aircraft. The D.I was light-weight and made of wood covered in fabric, apparently based on the British design of the Sopwith Tabloid.
Operational history
After Idflieg testing in 1915, the plane was rejected on the grounds that the biplane design afforded less vision to the pilot than a monoplane and was as such unsuitable for use as a fighter. A modified version, the Schütte-Lanz D.II was produced in the same year.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
- Powerplant: 1 × Oberursel U.0 7-cyl. air-cooled rotary piston engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
Bibliography
- William Green and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Colour Library Direct, Godalming, UK: 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1
Further reading
- Herris, Jack (2020). German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series (50). Vol. 2: Krieger to Union. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-86-5.