The aerial combat of the Great War foreshadowed the conflict that would follow a generation later in many ways - not least was the horsepower struggle. While the Allies progressed to high performing V12 aero engines, for the Central Powers six cylinder inlines like the Mercedes D.III remained the standard right to the end of the fighting. #warbirds #ww1 #ww1history #albatros #mercedes | Daniel J Wheatcroft

The Untold Story of Bavaria's Pfalz Fighters in WWI The Pfalz D.III and D.XII were the unsung heroes of the German Air Service. Manufactured in Bavaria, the D.III first flew in 1917, reaching a top speed of 103 mph. Renowned for their incredible structural strength and streamlined design, these fighters often operated in the shadow of Fokker and Albatros legends. The D.XII later pushed speeds to 120 mph to rival Allied aircraft. Despite their lower profile, they were reliable workhorses that pro