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I'm convinced that if it weren't for the triplane, the axial compressor would not have evolved. The tri-plane holds the key to the development of airfoil cascades which are used by axial compressors and turbines in jet engines. The triplane was the first experimental study of boundary layer interference, and led to the discovery of the passage vortex and investigation into secondary flows(ie tip vortices/tip leakage vortices, etc).

These considerations are critical in axial compressors, because a compressor is very sensitive to flow quality since it's operating against pressure, so the entire environment is an adverse pressure gradient. In that sense the turbine is a little easier to design, because you have a favorable pressure gradient over the airfoil cascades. The compressor is much more sensitive to flow losses caused by secondary flow vortices.

Off-topic aside, thanks for that, it seems the German triplane had a better turning radius, while the British one wasn't as maneuverable because of the larger heavier engine. So one plane got its kills in the turns, the other by running and gunning.