DFW R.III
title: "DFW R.III" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["dfw-aircraft", "1910s-german-bomber-aircraft"] topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DFW_R.III" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | R.III |
| image | DFW_R.III.jpg |
| aircraft_type | Bomber |
| manufacturer | DFW |
| status | Cancelled project |
| primary_user | Luftstreitkräfte |
| :: |
| name = R.III | logo = | logo_size = | image = DFW_R.III.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Bomber | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = DFW | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Cancelled project | owners = | primary_user = Luftstreitkräfte | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded =
The DFW R.III was a heavy bomber (Riesenflugzeug) biplane aircraft to be built by the Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke (DFW) during the First World War for the Imperial German Army's (Deutsches Heer) Imperial German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte). Design work had begun two months before the end of the war in November 1918, but was terminated at that time before construction began.
Development
The Inspectorate of Flying Troops (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen ordered two improved versions of the company's preceding R.II bomber on 3 September 1918. That aircraft's flying performance was mediocre and more power was thought to be the answer. More powerful engines were not available so the number of engines was doubled to eight 260 hp Mercedes D.IVas in the fuselage. Each was to be connected to a coaxial contra-rotating propeller in a push-pull configuration via a driveshaft. The propeller gearboxes were to be housed in a nacelle between the wings that also contained the fuel tanks. Another concept examined was use pairs of engines geared together to a single propeller, also in a push-pull arrangement. One or two auxiliary 120 hp Mercedes D.II engines would drive superchargers that could maintain the R.III's performance up to an altitude of 5000 m.
The pilots' cockpit was located under the trailing edge of the upper wing and the navigator had his own compartment forward of the wings. The aircraft was intended to be armed with eight machine guns in twin-gun mounts, fired by gunners located in upper nose, lower nose, ventral and dorsal positions of the double-decker fuselage. The R.III was required to be able to lift 2500 kg of bombs.
Specifications (as designed)
|ref=The German Giants: German R-planes 1914–1918 |prime units?=met General characteristics
|genhide=
|crew=7 |length m=25 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=53.5 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |upper span m= |upper span ft= |upper span in= |upper span note= |mid span m= |mid span ft= |mid span in= |mid span note= |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |height m=8.6 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=8 |eng1 name=Mercedes D.IVa |eng1 type=water-cooled straight-six piston engines |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=260 |eng1 note= |power original= |more power=
|eng2 number= 1 or 2 |eng2 name=Mercedes D.II |eng2 type=water-cooled straight-six piston engines |eng2 kw= |eng2 hp=120 |eng2 note=auxiliary engines to run superchargers
|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
Performance
|perfhide=y Armament
|guns= 8 × machine guns |bombs= 2500 kg
Citations
Bibliography
References
- Herris, p. 243
- Haddow & Grosz, p. 99
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