In April 1914 the German aircraft manufacturer Albatros-Flugzeugwerke GmbH of Berlin-Johannisthal, established a manufacturing company in Wien-Stadlau in Austria. This company became the second largest supplier of aircraft to the Austro-Hungarian Army and Navy. In January  1917 this  company changed ownwership and was renamed Phönix  Flugzeugwerke AG. Under the management of the designers Edmund Sparmann and Leo Kirste the prototype project for a new fighter was completed at the end of 1916. In October 1917 was the first batch of Phönix D-I delivered and accepted by the Army.  In March 1918 the D-I was officially replaced by the D-III. The D-III was also delivered to the Navy and was used for the coastal defence in the Adriatic. The D-III was ordered in quantity but arrived to late to make front service. 

In the spring of 1919 one Phönix C.1 and one Phönix D-III made a succesful display in Stockholm and both aircraft were bought by the Army Aviation Company (see also the page about Phönix C.1 Dront).

After the Armistice, 16 Phönix D-III were sold via a German firm and delivered to Sweden where they served as front line fighter for the Army Aviation Company. These aircraft had less strong engines (200 hp Hiero) than the first D-III, but now the Army at last got what it really needed; a real fighter aircraft!  

The fighter was armed with two 8 mm fixed machine-guns. The flying characteristics were excellent.

Several aircraft were lost in crashes. Therefore, ten more were license-built by FMV during 1925 and 1926. The Swedish copies did not have the same good performances as the Austrian originals. The Swedish ones had engines (BMW) of only 185 hp. They were also of constructed of heavier material.

In 1926, when the Swedish Air Force was founded, this fighters was designated J 1 (Jaktplan=Fighter), but were used as trainers.

The aircraft on the photo (# 947)is displayed at Flygvapenmuseum at Malmen. The same aircraft can be seen in old days on the photo below. The aircraft to the right on the photo is the NAB-built Albatros # 756.

Series 122: Length: 6,60 m. Span: 9,80 m.  Maximum take-off weight: 1063 kg. Max. speed:160 km/h.

 

For the Model Builder

Joystick Models has made a model kit of the Swedish Phönix D.III based on a vac-form moulding. Also white metal details (includig the engine) are provided. Scale 1:72. Catalouge number JOY 23. Click on thumbnail for larger image.

© Lars Henriksson