About This Content

The SSW D.IV came very late to the Great War to change Germany’s fortunes, but what machines did make it to front-line squadrons acquitted themselves well. The SS.DIV was the end result of a robust line of aircraft that saw service in the war and it came with a unique feature. The 200-hp SH.IIIa rotary engine had a crankshaft that rotated opposite of the engine and the propeller ’s rotation in an attempt to reduce the torque. The four-bladed propeller gave it a fast rate of climb and a high speed. The SS.DIV was even faster than Germany’s mainstay front-line fighter, the very successful Fokker D.VII. It was also very maneuverable, but reportedly had nasty stall behavior when pushed too far. The SS.DIV was armed with two 2 × 7.92mm machine guns.

SSW D.IV is a completely new addition - it wasn't modeled in our earlier WWI sim Rise of Flight. It can be used in Quick Mission Builder, Advanced Quick Mission Generator and Multiplayer modes.

Free historical campaign

If you own both this collector plane and either of Flying Circus volumes, "Against the Tide" historical campaign on the Western Front map will open up for you in the game for free. In this 5 scenarios long story you'll become one of the Jasta (Jagdstaffel) 22 pilots that received these newest biplanes shortly before the end of the World War I.

• Default armament: Two 08/15 Spandau 7,92mm machine guns, 500 rounds per barrel.
  
• Engine: Sh.IIIa contra-rotary 11 cyl., 207 h.p.
  
• Length: 5.58 m
  
• Wingspan: 8.35 m
  
• Wing surface: 15.12 m²

Armaments and Modifications

• Wilhelm Morell needle scale Bullet Counters for 2 machine guns.
  
• Wilhelm Morell Anemometer (45-250 km/h air speed indicator).
  
• D.R.G.M liquid Inclinometer (indicates bank while on ground and sideslip while in flight).
  
• Oigee Reflector-type Collimator sight (with or without daytime dimmer).
  
• Cockpit light for night sorties.

Skins

• Standard paint scheme (customizable tactical number).
  
• Jasta (Jagdstaffel) 12, Autumn 1918 (customizable tactical number).
  
• Jasta 13, Autumn 1918 (customizable tactical number).
  
• Jasta 14, Autumn 1918 (customizable tactical number).
  
• Jasta 15, Autumn 1918 (customizable tactical number).
  
• Jasta 19, Autumn 1918 (customizable tactical number).
  
• II. Marine Feld Jasta, Autumn 1918 (customizable tactical number).

Technical details

Empty weight : 552 kg
Takeoff weight : 735 kg
Fuel capacity : 80 l
Oil capacity : 20 l

Climb rate
1000 m — 1 min. 54 sec.
2000 m — 4 min. 10 sec.
3000 m — 6 min. 44 sec.
4000 m — 9 min. 43 sec.
5000 m — 13 min. 15 sec.
6000 m — 17 min. 35 sec.
7000 m — 23 min. 16 sec.
8000 m — 31 min. 47 sec.

Maximum airspeed (IAS)
sea level — 192 km/h
1000 m — 183 km/h
2000 m — 173 km/h
3000 m — 164 km/h
4000 m — 155 km/h
5000 m — 145 km/h
6000 m — 136 km/h
7000 m — 126 km/h
8000 m — 115 km/h

Service ceiling ~8000 m

Endurance at 1000 m
nominal power (combat) — 1 h. 12 min.
minimal consumption (cruise) — 2 h.