Pfalz Flugzeugwerke
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| File:Pfalz Flugzeugwerke.svg | |
| Industry | Aircraft manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 13, 1913 in Speyer, Palatinate, Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany |
Pfalz Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I, based at the airfield in Speyer within the Pfalz region. The firm gained recognition primarily for its fighter aircraft series, including the well-known Pfalz D.III and Pfalz D.XII. Following the Armistice, the company faced bankruptcy after French occupation forces seized all its equipment. Despite this setback, the factory premises were utilized by several other enterprises before Pfalz re-established operations in 1997. Currently, it functions as a parts supplier under the name PFW.
Early history
The origin of Pfalz traces back to Alfred Eversbusch, son of a foundry proprietor from Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Evidence suggests he constructed his own aircraft between 1912 and 1913, though the precise lineage of this design remains uncertain. On June 3, 1913, Pfalz was officially founded by Alfred alongside his brother Ernst and brother-in-law Willy Sabersky-Müssigbrodt, supported by investors Richard, Eugen, and August Kahn (the latter unrelated).
Initially, the company sought to manufacture aircraft designs licensed from Albatros Flugzeugwerke, but these negotiations did not materialize. Subsequently, they collaborated with Gustav Otto Flugzeugwerke to produce examples of his pusher-propeller biplane design. One such aircraft was dispatched on a tour in Africa and ultimately repurposed for reconnaissance duties.
Though Pfalz intended to establish their manufacturing facility at Speyer's new airfield from the outset, they encountered difficulties acquiring suitable land. In the meantime, Gustav Otto’s designs were assembled within the Speyer Festival Hall, which was vacant at that period. It was only on February 6, 1914, that city authorities agreed to sell a 7,000 m² plot for factory construction. The building was completed by July 1914, just one month prior to the outbreak of World War I.
World War I
By this stage, Pfalz had secured a license to manufacture Morane-Saulnier monoplanes, which were swiftly incorporated into German military service. As these became obsolete on the Western Front, production shifted to the LFG Roland D.I and subsequently the LFG Roland D.II models. Manufacturing of the D.II continued through late 1916 until it too fell behind contemporary standards.
Rather than licensing another external design, Pfalz adopted the previously patented Wickelrumpf (wrapped-fuselage) plywood semi-monocoque construction method from Roland and combined it with a new 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine to develop the Pfalz D.III. Introduced in August 1917, while not outperforming contemporaries such as the Albatros D.V, it excelled in specialized roles like attacking observation balloons due to its superior diving speed. Approximately 600 units of both the original D.III and its slightly modified D.IIIa variant were produced up until its replacement a year later; around 450 remained operational at that time.
Modifications of the D.III equipped with the innovative but somewhat unreliable Siemens-Halske Sh.III rotary engine resulted in the creation of the Pfalz D.VIII. This model boasted an exceptional climb rate comparable to that of the other Sh.III-powered fighter, the Siemens-Schuckert D.IV. However, difficulties with ersatz engine oil limited reliability and production numbers were small. The D.VIII saw frontline deployment with units like Jasta 2 (Jasta Boelcke), though exact production figures remain unclear.
The D.VIII was further adapted into a triplane configuration known as the Pfalz Dr.I, submitted for evaluation at the First Fighter Competition held at Adlershof in January 1918. Powered by the same Sh.III engine, it outperformed contemporaries powered by the less potent Oberursel UR.II. Despite this advantage, victory went to the Fokker Dr.I, unsurprising given it was designed from inception as a triplane rather than converted from a biplane layout. Roughly a dozen Dr.I units were built and saw operational use for some duration.
The last significant production fighter developed by Pfalz was the Pfalz D.XII, an evolution of the D.III that replaced its sesquiplane wing structure with two-bay wings resembling those on French SPAD fighters engineered by Louis Béchereau. The D.XII competed in the Second Fighter Competition in June 1918 against notable designs such as the monoplane Fokker E.V. Although similar in appearance and performance to the acclaimed Fokker D.VII, it was generally regarded as inferior regarding handling qualities and presented challenges during landing. Nevertheless, approximately 800 units entered production prior to the Armistice; many survived post-war and were seized as spoils by Allied forces. Some examples appeared in films including Hell's Angels and The Dawn Patrol.
A derivative model named D.XIV did not proceed beyond prototype stage or receive production orders. Pfalz’s final scout aircraft, the D.XV, participated in the Third Fighter Competition and was ordered into production shortly before war’s end by Idflieg, but it never entered active service.
Interwar Period
Following the conclusion of the war, the Pfalz factory came under French occupation and was thoroughly stripped of valuable assets. On June 4, 1919, the enterprise was reconstituted as A.G. Pfalz, with its primary activities described as "shipbuilding, manufacturing, and trading industrial goods." This company ultimately succumbed to bankruptcy during the Great Depression in 1932.
Second World War
Aircraft-related operations resumed at the factories on October 1, 1937, this time under the name Saarpfalz Flugwerke, functioning primarily as a maintenance firm. Since the Speyer airfield was no longer operational, repaired aircraft had to be transported to Mannheim-Neuostheim for test flights. However, the city undertook reconstruction of the airport over the following year, leading to its reopening in 1938.
The firm experienced rapid growth, employing over 200 workers by late 1937, increasing to 500 by the outbreak of war, and reaching 1,500 employees by war’s end. Throughout this period, they serviced numerous aircraft models including the Focke-Wulf Fw 58, Heinkel He 45, He 46, He 51, He 111, Junkers Ju 52, and Ju 88.
Operations at these facilities ceased in March 1945 due to advancing American and French forces.
Ernst Heinkel, VFW, and MBB
In 1955, Ernst Heinkel introduced his renowned bubblecar, the Heinkel Kabine, which received road approval in February 1956. Shortly thereafter, he acquired the Speyer plants to expand production capacity alongside his main assembly line in Karlsruhe. Given its proximity to the airfield, there were indications he intended to initiate aircraft manufacturing at Speyer as well.
Over five years, approximately 3,800 Heinkel Kabines were manufactured at Speyer, reaching a daily output of about 50 vehicles. However, Heinkel’s death in 1958 halted plans for aircraft production expansion. By 1961, both assembly lines were sold off to Ireland and Argentina.
In 1964, remnants of Heinkel merged with Focke Wulf and Weser Flugzeugbau to establish VFW (later known as VFW-Fokker). The Speyer facilities contributed to producing 169 units of the Transall C-160. They also manufactured components for licensed production of the UH-1 Iroquois and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters. Additional contract work was performed for other aviation firms such as Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), Dornier, and engine maker MTU.
In 1983, MBB acquired the Speyer plants and converted them into a central helicopter maintenance hub. Facing financial challenges, MBB merged with Deutsche Aerospace in 1989.
Revival of Pfalz Flugzeugwerke
On January 1, 1997, control of the Speyer facility was transferred to its remaining workforce of 523 employees and reinstated under the name Pfalz Flugzeugwerke. The company continues specializing in helicopter maintenance services today.
The previous year saw DASA’s factory transformed into an employee-owned joint stock company managed by three former DASA executives. The business diversified into supplying cargo loading systems, ducts and manifolds, as well as auxiliary fuel tanks and fairings. On January 1, 1997, ownership of the Speyer plant was formally assigned to its remaining staff of 523 employees with the original name Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke restored.
By January 22, 1998, reports from Mannheimer Morgen highlighted "excellent morale among PFW employees." No workforce reductions were planned; instead, staffing increased through temporary hires. At that time there were 617 employees and a turnover target of 125 million DM had been met.
In 2001, shares were sold to Safeguard International Fund to raise capital necessary for rapid growth and meet expanding aerospace market demands. This strategic move facilitated accelerated expansion with an emphasis on international markets.
Aircraft
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