The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Pflaz DIIIa

Kwiatek · 11 September 2009, 07:57 AM

I read some books, internet sites about Pflaz DIII. I spot really different opinions about these planes. Some descirbe it beside its better dive ability as worse then Albatros V fighters good only in balloon mission. Here is some of such opinion:

"German pilots variously criticized the Pfalz’s heavy controls, low speed, lack of power, or low rate of climb compared to the Albatros. The D.III slipped in turns, leading to crashes when unwary pilots turned at very low altitudes. Moreover, the Pfalz stalled sharply and spun readily. Recovery from the resulting flat spin was difficult, though some pilots took advantage of this trait to descend quickly or evade enemy aircraft"

Probably worse opinion about these plane cames from first version of Pflaz III with 160 HP Mercedes which was underpower.

Some said that was more manouverable then ALbatros and could be generally better plane.

In example in ROF game Pflaz DIII a is very good plane. It is manouverable, with very good turn rate, medium climb rate , good dive and rather poor speed ( comparing to Allied planes). It is even better in turn and climb then Fokker DVII and much better then Albatros DVa.

I put some data from game ( and RL):

Wingloading for PflazIIIa- 41kg/m2, DVa - 44 kg/m2, Fokker - 41 kg/m2

Powerloading for PflazIIIa- 0,197 HP/kg, DVa - 0,192 HP/kg, Fokker - 0,20

( all with 180 HP Mercedes)

Speed: Pflaz DIIIa - 180 km/h, Dva -186 km/h, Fokker DVII - 188 km/h

climb to 2km: Pflaz -7:26 min, DVa- 8:48 min, Fokker DVII- 8:36 min

Pflaz IIIA has better wingloading, powerloading and Clmax then Albatros and similar to the Fokker DVII

Here are CLmax for these planes :

1.462 - Pfalz D.IIIa
1.370 - Fokker D.VII
1.313 - Albatros D.V

Analyzing Pflaz wing airfoil i see that even if it get high critical AoA ~ 16 deg. it lose very quickly lift without so much warning and has sharp polar Clmax/AoA. From charts it look that e.x Fokker airfoil get critical AoA ~ 17 deg but also has much more gentle polar. Albatros airfoil get lower critical AoA ~ 14,5 deg but also polar is more gentle then Pflaz. Also longer wingspan of Plfaz DIII could result worse roll rate and the same worse manouverbility in change directions of flight.

So whats is expert opinion about Pflaz DIIIa? It was really such bad like general opinion of these planes or it was such close in performance to Fokker DVII and much better then Albatros DVa?

11 September 2009, 07:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kwiatek Observer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 10	Pflaz DIIIa - how good or bad it really was? I read some books, internet sites about Pflaz DIII. I spot really different opinions about these planes. Some descirbe it beside its better dive ability as worse then Albatros V fighters good only in balloon mission. Here is some of such opinion: "German pilots variously criticized the Pfalz’s heavy controls, low speed, lack of power, or low rate of climb compared to the Albatros. The D.III slipped in turns, leading to crashes when unwary pilots turned at very low altitudes. Moreover, the Pfalz stalled sharply and spun readily. Recovery from the resulting flat spin was difficult, though some pilots took advantage of this trait to descend quickly or evade enemy aircraft" Probably worse opinion about these plane cames from first version of Pflaz III with 160 HP Mercedes which was underpower. Some said that was more manouverable then ALbatros and could be generally better plane. In example in ROF game Pflaz DIII a is very good plane. It is manouverable, with very good turn rate, medium climb rate , good dive and rather poor speed ( comparing to Allied planes). It is even better in turn and climb then Fokker DVII and much better then Albatros DVa. I put some data from game ( and RL): Wingloading for PflazIIIa- 41kg/m2, DVa - 44 kg/m2, Fokker - 41 kg/m2 Powerloading for PflazIIIa- 0,197 HP/kg, DVa - 0,192 HP/kg, Fokker - 0,20 ( all with 180 HP Mercedes) Speed: Pflaz DIIIa - 180 km/h, Dva -186 km/h, Fokker DVII - 188 km/h climb to 2km: Pflaz -7:26 min, DVa- 8:48 min, Fokker DVII- 8:36 min Pflaz IIIA has better wingloading, powerloading and Clmax then Albatros and similar to the Fokker DVII Here are CLmax for these planes : 1.462 - Pfalz D.IIIa 1.370 - Fokker D.VII 1.313 - Albatros D.V Analyzing Pflaz wing airfoil i see that even if it get high critical AoA ~ 16 deg. it lose very quickly lift without so much warning and has sharp polar Clmax/AoA. From charts it look that e.x Fokker airfoil get critical AoA ~ 17 deg but also has much more gentle polar. Albatros airfoil get lower critical AoA ~ 14,5 deg but also polar is more gentle then Pflaz. Also longer wingspan of Plfaz DIII could result worse roll rate and the same worse manouverbility in change directions of flight. So whats is expert opinion about Pflaz DIIIa? It was really such bad like general opinion of these planes or it was such close in performance to Fokker DVII and much better then Albatros DVa?