| BMW IIIa | |
|---|---|
| |
| The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's preserved BMW IIIa, shown with quick-change propeller hub | |
| Type | Inline engine |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| First run | 1917 |
| Major applications | Fokker D.VII |
BMW IIIa was an inline six-cylinder SOHC valvetrain, water-cooled aircraft engine, the first-ever engine produced by Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, who, at the time, were exclusively an aircraft engine manufacturer. Its success laid the foundation for future BMW engine designs. It is best known as the powerplant of the Fokker D.VIIF, which outperformed any allied aircraft.