KONDOR E.3/ E.3A SWISS VERSION

The Condor E.III was a German fighter plane in a monoplane arrangement with an umbrella wing, from the declining period of the First World War. The drive was provided - in the first production batch - by a single motor Oberursel Ur.III with a power of 145 HP. The prototype flight took place in August or September 1918. In total, about 10-15 aircraft of this type were built. The deck armament consisted of two 7.7 mm Vickers machine guns. The Kondor E.III was created on the wave of enthusiasm that arose in the German aviation after the introduction of the Fokker D.VIII. Like the Fokker's fighter, the Condor E.III also used an umbrella wing, but was more aerodynamically refined and was powered by a more powerful engine, which generated better performance. Later, the Kondor E.IIIa version, powered by the Goebel Goe III engine with a power of 200 HP, also appeared. Good performance and the overall high value of the machine meant that the German Air Force placed an order for at least 100 Condor E.III aircraft. However, the November 1918 ceasefire put an end to the plans to mass-produce this highly successful aircraft. After the end of World War I, several aircraft of this type went to the Netherlands and Switzerland.