Dreidecker is the german word for triplane. This plane was extremely maneuverable and agile in the air. Richthofen called it 'machine gubs on wings'. A feared adversary in the 'air to air' combat
in the first World War.
It was introduced in July 1917 and in early 1918 it was already 'obsolete' compared to more powerfull and agile aircraft like the Fokker D VII.
Cockpit
Picture of Paul Ford's cockpit. You see the handles of the control column under the machine guns. Compared to cockpits of modern planes, it looks very spare.
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