D.I

Role	Single-seat fighter Type of aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Zeppelin-Lindau
Designer	Claude Dornier
First flight	4 June 1918^[1]
Status	Work stopped on production examples
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Number built	7
Developed into	Dornier Do H Falke

The Zeppelin D.I, or Zeppelin-Lindau D.I or Zeppelin D.I (Do), as named in German documents, also sometimes referred to postwar as the Dornier D.I or Dornier-Zeppelin D.I, for the designer,^[2] was a single-seat all-metal stressed skin^[3]^[4] monocoque^[3] cantilever-wing biplane fighter,^[3]^[4] developed by Claude Dornier while working for Luftschiffbau Zeppelin at their Lindau facility.^[3] It was too late to see operational service with the German Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte) during World War I.

Development and design

The Dornier D.I was one of several designs by Claude Dornier to have an all-metal stressed skin^[3] monocoque structure,^[3] and it was the first fighter to feature such construction and although production was halted prior to the completion of any production versions, it was also the first aircraft with these features to go into production. To reduce the hazards of inflight fires it also had an external fuel tank which may have been jettisonable, according to some sources^[2]^[5] and thick-section cantilever wings for improved aerodynamics. The Dornier Do H Falke monoplane was developed from it with an enlarged upper wing compensating for the removal of the lower wing.

Operational history

Seven prototypes were built for the development program but it was never used operationally due to the end of World War I. Luftstreitkräfte (German Air Force) pilots evaluated the type in May and June 1918 and again in October.^[6]^[7] German ace Wilhelm Reinhard was killed on 3 July 1918 after a structural failure when it was supposed to have been grounded for structural improvements.^[6] There were reports of heavy aileron controls and poor climb rates at altitude. After being fitted with a more powerful BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine that reduced the time needed to rate to reach 5,000 m (16,000 ft) from 25 minutes to 13 minutes, an order was placed for 50 aircraft either in October or November.^[8] These were roughly 50 percent complete when production was halted following the armistice in early 1919.^[7] One example went to the US Navy and another to the US Army Air Service, both purchased in 1921 and delivered in 1922, for evaluation of the novel construction methods used.^[7]

Operators

German Empire

Luftstreitkräfte - evaluation only

United States

United States Navy - one example for evaluation, serialed A6058^[9]
United States Air Service - one example for evaluation, serialed AS.68546, McCook Field Project Number P.241^[10]^[11]

Specifications (BMW engine)

Data from Kössler, 1985, p.78

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 6.37 m (20 ft 11 in)
Upper wingspan: 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Upper Wing chord: 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
Lower wingspan: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 18.7 m² (201 sq ft)
Empty weight: 725 kg (1,598 lb)
Gross weight: 885 kg (1,951 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × BMW IIIa water-cooled 6-cylinder inline engine, 138 kW (185 hp)
Propellers: 2-bladed Axial^[12], 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) diameter fixed pitch wood propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn) at sea level
Service ceiling: 8,100 m (26,600 ft)
Time to altitude: 13 minutes to 5,000 m (16,000 ft)^[8]

Armament

2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) fixed forward-firing LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns

References

Citations

^ Grosz, 1998, p.8
^ ^a ^b Grosz, 1998, p.12
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Grosz, 1998, p.0
^ ^a ^b Grey, 1970, p.580
^ Kössler, 1985, p.78
^ ^a ^b Grosz, 1998, p.1
^ ^a ^b ^c Grosz, 1998, p.10
^ ^a ^b Grosz, 1998, p.9
^ Grosz, 1998, pp.3-4 and 8-10
^ "1908-1921 USASC-USAAS Serial Numbers". Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
^ Grosz, 1998, pp.10-13
^ Grosz, 1998, p.2

Bibliography

Grosz, Peter (1998). Dornier D.I. Windsock Mini datafile. Vol. 12. Hertfordshire, UK: Albatros Publications. ISBN 9780948414923.
Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen (1987) [1970]. German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
Hundertmark, Michael; Steinle, Holger (1985). Phoenix aus der Asche - Die Deutsche Luftfahrt Sammlung Berlin (in German). Berlin: Silberstreif Verlag. ISBN 978-3924091026.
Kössler, Karl (1985). Dornier - Die Chronik des ältesten deutschen Flugzeugwerks (in German). Friedrichshafen, Germany: Walter Biering GmbH. p. 78. ISBN 3-925505-01-6.
Ogden, Bob (1983). Dornier - Flypast Reference Library. Lincs, England: Key Publishing. ISBN 0-946219-05-2. LCCN 0263-5887.
Schmeelke, Michael (2020). Zeppelin-Lindau Aircraft of WWI: Claude Dornier's Metal Airplanes 1914–1919. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 42. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-83-4.
Sheppard, Milton (Winter 1968). "Dornier D.I Static Test". Cross & Cockade. 9 (4). Society of WW1 Aero Historians: 391–395.
Staff writer (23 December 1920). "Some "Dornier" Milestones". Flight. Flight Magazine. pp. 1269–1273, 1289–1292.
Terry, Gerard (1981). "The Development of Dornier Landplanes 1914-1918". Cross & Cockade Great Britain Journal. 12 (3). Society of WW1 Aero Historians: 97–117.
Zuerl, Walter (1941). Deutsche Flugzeug Konstrukteure. München, Germany: Curt Pechstein Verlag.

Zeppelin aircraft

Lighter-than-air
(airships)

Manufacturer
hull
numbers

A Class	LZ 1
B Class	LZ 2 LZ 3
C Class	LZ 4 LZ 5
D Class	LZ 6
E Class	LZ 7 LZ 8
F Class	LZ 9 LZ 10 LZ 12
G Class	LZ 11 LZ 13
H Class	LZ 14 LZ 15 LZ 16 LZ 17 LZ 19 LZ 20
I Class	LZ 18
J Class	skipped
K Class	LZ 21
L Class	LZ 22 LZ 23
M Class	LZ 24 LZ 25 LZ 27 LZ 28 LZ 29 LZ 30 LZ 31 LZ 32 LZ 33 LZ 34 LZ 35 LZ 37
N Class	LZ 26
O Class	LZ 36 LZ 39
P Class	LZ 38 LZ 40 LZ 41 LZ 42 LZ 43 LZ 44 LZ 45 LZ 46 LZ 47 LZ 48 LZ 49 LZ 50 LZ 51 LZ 52 LZ 53 LZ 54 LZ 55 LZ 56 LZ 57 LZ 58 LZ 60 LZ 63
Q Class	LZ 59 LZ 61 LZ 64 LZ 65 LZ 66 LZ 67 LZ 68 LZ 69 LZ 71 LZ 73 LZ 77 LZ 81
R Class	LZ 62 LZ 72 LZ 74 LZ 75 LZ 76 LZ 78 LZ 79 LZ 80 LZ 82 LZ 83 LZ 84 LZ 85 LZ 86 LZ 87 LZ 88 LZ 89 LZ 90
S Class	LZ 91 LZ 92
T Class	LZ 93 LZ 94
U Class	LZ 95 LZ 96 LZ 97 LZ 98 LZ 99
V Class	LZ 100 LZ 101 LZ 103 LZ 105 LZ 106 LZ 107 LZ 108 LZ 109 LZ 110 LZ 111
W Class	LZ 102 LZ 104
X Class	LZ 112 LZ 113 LZ 114
Post-war	LZ 120 LZ 121 LZ 126 LZ 127 LZ 129 LZ 130
Unbuilt	LZ 70 LZ 115–LZ 119 LZ 122–LZ 125 LZ 128 LZ 131–LZ 132

Operator's
identification

Names	Bodensee Deutschland Deutschland II Dixmude Esperia Graf Zeppelin Graf Zeppelin II Hindenburg Hansa USS Los Angeles Méditerranée Nordstern Sachsen Schwaben Viktoria Luise
Army Z designations¹	Z I Ersatz Z I Ersatz Z I (2) Z II Ersatz Z II Z III Z IV Z V Z VI Z VII Z VIII Z IX Z X Z XI Z XII
Army LZ designations²	LZ 34 LZ 35 LZ 37 LZ 38 LZ 39 LZ 72 LZ 74 LZ 77 LZ 79 LZ 81 LZ 85 LZ 86 LZ 87 LZ 88 LZ 90 LZ 93 LZ 95 LZ 97 LZ 98 LZ 101 LZ 103 LZ 107 LZ 111 LZ 113 LZ 120
Navy L designations	L 1 L 2 L 3 L 4 L 5 L 6 L 7 L 8 L 9 L 10 L 11 L 12 L 13 L 14 L 15 L 16 L 17 L 18 L 19 L 20 L 21 L 22 L 23 L 24 L 30 L 31 L 32 L 33 L 34 L 35 L 36 L 37 L 38 L 39 L 40 L 41 L 42 L 43 L 44 L 45 L 46 L 47 L 48 L 49 L 50 L 51 L 52 L 53 L 54 L 55 L 56 L 57 L 58 L 59 L 60 L 61 L 62 L 63 L 64 L 65 L 70 L 71 L 72

Heavier-than-air
(aeroplanes)

Zeppelin-Staaken	L 8301 VGO.I VGO.II VGO.III R.IV R.V R.VI R.VII R.XIV R.XV R.XVI E.4/20
Zeppelin-Lindau	CL.I CL.II CS.I D.I Rs.I Rs.II Rs.III Rs.IV V1
Zeppelin Flugzeugebau	C.I C.II C.IV
Other	L 1 Rammer Fliegende Panzerfaust ZMe 323 ZMe 423 ZSO 523

¹Early Army designations, used pre-war. ²Wartime Army LZ designations were not always matched to Zeppelin's LZ hull number.

v t e Dornier and Zeppelin-Lindau aircraft
Zeppelin-Lindau 1914-1919	Rs.I Rs.II Rs.III Rs.IV CL.I CL.II CS.I D.I Gs.I Gs.II V 1
Dornier designations 1919-1933	Do A Do B Do C Do D Do E Do F Do G (project) Do H Do J Do K Do L Do N Do O Do P Do Q Do R Do S Do T Do U Do V Do X Do Y Delphin Falke Komet Libelle Merkur Spatz Wal
RLM designations 1933-1945	Do 10 Do 11 Do 12 Do 13 Do 14 Do 15 Do 16 Do 17 (Operational history) Do 18 Do 19 Do 20 Do 22 Do 23 Do 24 Do 25 Do 26 Do 29 Do 212 Do 214 Do 215 Do 216 Do 217 Do 317 Do 318 Do 335 Do 417 Do 435 Do 635 P.59 P.85 P.174 P.184 P.192 P.231 P.232 P.238 P.247 P.252 P.254 P.256 P.273 P.1075
Dornier designations post-1945	Do 24 Do 25 Do 27 Do 28 Do 29 Do 31 Do 32 Do 32K Do 34 128 Do 131 Do 132 228 Do 231 328 328JET 428 528 728JET 928JET Aerodyne Alpha Jet Projekt 621 Seastar S-Ray 007
See also Claude Dornier and Dornier Museum Friedrichshafen

Idflieg D and DJ-class aircraft designations

D- class

AEG	D.I D.II D.III
Albatros	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII D.IX D.X D.XI D.XII
Aviatik	(D.I skipped) D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII
Daimler	D.I D.II
DFW	D.I D.II
Euler	D.I D.II
Fokker	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII
Friedrichshafen	D.I D.II D.III
Halberstadt	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V
Junkers	D.I
Kondor	D.I
LFG/Roland	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII D.IX D.X D.XI D.XII D.XIII D.XIV D.XV D.XVI D.XVII
LVG	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI
Märkische	D.I
Naglo	D.I D.II
Pfalz	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII D.IX D.X D.XI D.XII D.XIII D.XIV D.XV
Rumpler	D.I
Schütte-Lanz	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII
Siemens-Schuckert	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI
Zeppelin-Lindau	D.I

DJ- class

AEG	DJ.I

v t e World War I aircraft of the Central Powers
Fighters	AEG D.I AEG Dr.I Albatros D.I Albatros D.II Albatros D.III Albatros D.V Aviatik D.I Aviatik C.VI Daimler L.6 Euler D.I Euler D.II Fokker D.I Fokker D.II Fokker D.III Fokker D.IV Fokker D.V Fokker D.VI Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VIII Fokker Dr.I Fokker E.I Fokker E.II Fokker E.III Fokker E.IV Fokker E.V Halberstadt D.II Hannover CL.II Hannover CL.III Hannover CL.IV Hannover CL.V Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 Junkers D.I Kondor D.6 Kondor E.III Naglo D.II Pfalz D.III Pfalz D.XII Pfalz Dr.I Pfalz E.I Pfalz E.II Phönix D.I LFG Roland D.II LFG Roland D.VI Siemens-Schuckert D.I Siemens-Schuckert D.II Siemens-Schuckert D.III Siemens-Schuckert D.IV Zeppelin-Lindau D.I
Bombers and ground attack	AEG DJ.I AEG G.I AEG G.II AEG G.III AEG G.IV AEG G.V AEG J.I AEG J.II AEG R.I Friedrichshafen G.II Friedrichshafen G.III Gotha G.I Gotha G.II Gotha G.III Gotha G.IV Gotha G.V Gotha GL.VII Gotha G.IX Hannover CL.II Junkers CL.I Junkers J.I Rumpler G.I Rumpler G.II Rumpler G.III Siemens-Schuckert L.I Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.II Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.III Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.IV Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
Reconnaissance	AEG B.I AEG B.II AEG B.III AEG C.I AEG C.II AEG C.III AEG C.IV AEG C.V AEG C.VI AEG C.VII AEG C.VIII AGO C.I AGO C.II AGO C.III AGO C.IV AGO C.VII AGO C.VIII Albatros B.I Albatros B.II Albatros C.I Albatros C.III Albatros C.V Albatros C.VII Albatros C.IX Albatros C.X Albatros C.XII Aviatik B.I Aviatik B.II Aviatik C.I Aviatik C.VI DFW C.V LFG Roland C.II LVG B.I LVG C.II Rumpler C.I Rumpler C.IV Rumpler Taube
Trainers	Euler D.I
Prototypes	Albatros C.II Fokker V.1 Fokker V.2 Junkers J 1 Junkers J 2 Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.I