Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

DFS 331

After the success of the 1940 airborne assaults involving the DFS 230, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium invited the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug/DFS and Gotha to submit plans for a larger capacity glider. The result was the DFS 231, a twenty-seat troop designed by Hans Jacobs, who had previously produced the successful, nine seat DFS 230.

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DFS 331
General information
TypeTroop glider
ManufacturerDFS/Gotha
Designer
Number built1
History
First flight30 September 19401

After the success of the 1940 airborne assaults involving the DFS 230, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) invited the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug/DFS and Gotha to submit plans for a larger capacity glider.2 The result was the DFS 231, a twenty-seat troop designed by Hans Jacobs, who had previously produced the successful, nine seat DFS 230.3

The visibility from the cockpit was good, with the entire nose being glazed, and the body was very wide, allowing it to carry light Flak guns and small military vehicles. A single prototype, the V1, was built and flown in 1941. The best glide ratio, at fully loaded weight, was 17.5.2 The project was passed over in favour of the Gotha Go 242.3

Specifications

Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945,4 German gliders in World War II5

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 20 troops or 2,300 kg (5,071 lb) of cargo
  • Length: 15.81 m (51 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 23 m (75 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 60 m2 (650 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,270 kg (5,004 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,770 kg (10,516 lb)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 330 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 1:18
  • Maximum towing speed: 330 km/h (205 mph)

Armament

  • Guns: 2x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 15 machine-guns
See also

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

References

  1. Griehl, Manfred (2012). X-Planes: German Luftwaffe Prototypes 1930-1945. London: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-783034-19-2.
  2. Munson 1978, p. 38.
  3. Wood, Alan (1990). History of the World's Glider Forces. Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 978-1-85260-275-8.
  4. Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 : Band 1 Flugzeugtypen AEG - Dornier. Vol. 1. Germany: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. pp. 167–168, 244–245. ISBN 978-3-7637-5465-6.
  5. Nowarra, Heinz J. (1991). German gliders in World War II. West Chester, PA: Schiffer. pp. 20–23, 47. ISBN 0887403581.

Further reading