Fokker D.VII

The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the second half of 1918. In service with the Luftstreitkräfte, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft. The Armistice ending the war specifically required, as the fourth clause of the "Clauses Relating to the Western Front", that Germany was required to surrender all D.VIIs to the Allies.[1] Surviving aircraft saw much service with many countries in the years after World War I.

Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII reproduction at the NMUSAF. The aircraft is painted in the colors of Leutnant Rudolf Stark of Jasta 35b
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Fokker-Flugzeugwerke
Designer Reinhold Platz
First flight January 1918
Primary user Luftstreitkräfte
Number built approximately 3,300

Development and production
Fokker D.VII (OAW) 8909/18

Fokker's chief designer, Reinhold Platz, had been working on a series of experimental V-series aircraft, starting in 1916. The aircraft were notable for the use of cantilever wings. Hugo Junkers and his aviation firm had originated the idea in 1915 with the first practical all-metal aircraft, the Junkers J 1 monoplane, nicknamed Blechesel (Sheet Metal Donkey or Tin Donkey). The wings were thick, with a rounded leading edge. The shape of the wings' airfoil gave greater lift, with its relatively "blunt" leading edge (as seen in cross-section) giving it more docile stalling behavior than the thin wings commonly in use.

Late in 1917, Fokker built the experimental V 11 biplane, fitted with the standard Mercedes D.IIIa engine. In January 1918, Idflieg held a fighter competition at Adlershof. For the first time, front line pilots participated in the evaluation and selection of new fighters. Fokker submitted the V 11 along with several other prototypes. Manfred von Richthofen flew the V 11 and found it tricky, unpleasant and directionally unstable in a dive. Platz lengthened the rear fuselage by one structural bay and added a triangular fin in front of the rudder. Richthofen tested the modified V 11 and praised it as the best aircraft of the competition. It offered excellent performance from the outdated Mercedes engine, yet was safe and easy to fly. Richthofen's recommendation virtually decided the competition but he was not alone in recommending it. Fokker immediately received a provisional order for 400 production aircraft, which were named D.VII by Idflieg.

Fokker D.VII (F)
Fokker D.VII looping

Fokker's factory was not up to the task of meeting all D.VII production orders and Idflieg directed Albatros and AEG to build the D.VII under license, though AEG did not ultimately produce any aircraft. Because the Fokker factory did not use detailed plans as part of its production process, Fokker simply sent a D.VII airframe for Albatros to copy. Albatros paid Fokker a five percent royalty for every D.VII they built under license. Albatros Flugzeugwerke and its subsidiary, Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW), built the D.VII at factories in Johannisthal [Fokker D.VII (Alb)] and Schneidemühl [Fokker D.VII (OAW)] respectively. Aircraft markings included the type designation and factory suffix, immediately before the individual serial number.

Some parts were not interchangeable between aircraft produced at different factories, even between Albatros and OAW.[2] Each manufacturer tended to differ in both nose paint styles and the patterning and layout of their engine compartment cooling louvers on the sides of the nose.[3] OAW produced examples were delivered with distinctive mauve and green splotches on the cowling. All D.VIIs were produced with either the five-color Fünffarbiger or less often, the four-color Vierfarbiger lozenge camouflage covering, except for early Fokker-produced D.VIIs, which had a streaked green fuselage. Factory camouflage finishes were often overpainted with colorful paint schemes or insignia for the Jasta or for a pilot.

In September 1918, eight D.VIIs were delivered to Bulgaria. Late in 1918, the Austro-Hungarian company Magyar Általános Gépgyár (MÁG, Hungarian General Machine Company) commenced licensed production of the D.VII with Austro-Daimler engines. Production continued after the end of the war, with as many as 50 aircraft completed.[4]

Powerplants

Many sources erroneously state that the D.VII was equipped with the 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III engine. The Germans used D.III as a generic term to describe later versions of that engine. The earliest production D.VIIs were equipped with 170–180 hp Mercedes D.IIIa. Production quickly switched to the intended standard engine, the higher-compression 134 kW (180–200 hp) Mercedes D.IIIaü. It appears that some early production D.VIIs delivered with the Mercedes D.IIIa were later re-engined with the D.IIIaü.

By mid-1918, some D.VIIs received the "overcompressed" 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa, the first product of the BMW firm. The BMW IIIa followed the SOHC, straight-six configuration of the Mercedes D.III but incorporated several improvements. Increased displacement, higher compression and an altitude-adjusting carburettor produced a marked increase in speed and climb rate at high altitude. Because the BMW IIIa was overcompressed, using full throttle at altitudes below 2,000 m (6,600 ft) risked premature detonation in the cylinders and damage to the engine. At low altitudes, full throttle could produce up to 179 kW (240 hp) for a short time. Fokker-built aircraft with the new BMW engine were called D.VII(F), the suffix "F" standing for Max Friz, the engine designer.

BMW-engined aircraft entered service with Jasta 11 in late June 1918. Pilots clamored for the D.VII(F), of which about 750 were built. Production of the BMW IIIa was limited and the D.VII continued to be produced with the 134 kW (180 hp) Mercedes D.IIIaü until the end of the war.

D.VIIs flew with different propeller designs from different manufacturers. Despite the variations there is no indication these propellers gave disparate performance. Axial, Wolff, Wotan, and Heine propellers have been noted.

Operational history

World War I
Hermann Göring, commander of Jagdgeschwader 1, beside his Fokker D.VII 5125/18. He holds a walking stick previously owned by Manfred von Richthofen
Ernst Udet beside his D.VII, nicknamed "Lo"
Fokker D.VII of Jasta 66

The D.VII entered squadron service with Jasta 10 in early May 1918. When the Fokker D.VII appeared on the Western Front in April 1918, Allied pilots at first underestimated the new fighter because of its squarish, ungainly appearance but quickly revised their view. The type quickly proved to have many important advantages over the Albatros and Pfalz scouts. Unlike the Albatros scouts, the D.VII could dive without any fear of structural failure. The D.VII was also noted for its high manoeuvrability and ability to climb, its remarkably docile stall and reluctance to spin. It could "hang on its prop" without stalling for brief periods of time, spraying enemy aircraft from below with machine gun fire. These handling characteristics contrasted with contemporary scouts such as the Camel and SPAD, which stalled sharply and spun vigorously.

Several aircraft suffered rib failures and fabric shedding on the upper wing. Heat from the engine sometimes ignited phosphorus ammunition until additional cooling louvers were installed on the metal sides of the engine cowling panels and fuel tanks sometimes broke at the seams. Aircraft built by the Fokker factory at Schwerin were noted for their lower standard of workmanship and materials. Despite faults, the D.VII proved to be a remarkably successful design, leading to the familiar aphorism that it could turn a mediocre pilot into a good one and a good pilot into an ace.

Richthofen died days before the D.VII began to reach the Jagdstaffeln and never flew it in combat. Other pilots, including Erich Löwenhardt and Hermann Göring, quickly racked up victories and generally lauded the design. Aircraft availability was limited at first, but by July there were 407 in service. Larger numbers became available by August, when D.VIIs achieved 565 victories. The D.VII eventually equipped 46 Jagdstaffeln. When the war ended in November, 775 D.VII aircraft were in service.

Post-war service
Captured D.VII with an American Liberty L-6 engine installed for testing
Preserved D.VII in Swiss markings

The Allies confiscated large numbers of D.VII aircraft after the Armistice. The United States Army and Navy evaluated 142 captured examples.[5] Several of these aircraft were re-engined with American-built Liberty L-6 motors, very similar in appearance to the D.VII's original German power plants. France, Great Britain and Canada also received numbers of war prizes.

Other countries used the D.VII operationally. The Polish deployed approximately 50 aircraft during the Polish-Soviet War, using them mainly for ground attack missions.[6] The Hungarian Soviet Republic used a number of D.VIIs, both built by MAG and ex-German aircraft in the Hungarian-Romanian War of 1919.[7]

The Dutch, Swiss, and Belgian air forces also operated the D.VII. The aircraft proved so popular that Fokker completed and sold a large number of D.VII airframes that he had smuggled into the Netherlands after the Armistice. As late as 1929, the Alfred Comte company manufactured eight new D.VII airframes under license for the Swiss Fliegertruppe.

Variants
Fokker V 11
Prototype
Fokker V 21
Prototype with tapered wings
Fokker V 22
Prototype with four-bladed propeller
Fokker V 24
Prototype with 240 hp (180 kW) Benz Bz.IVü engine
Fokker V 31
One D.VII aircraft fitted with a hook to tow the Fokker V 30 glider
Fokker V 34
D.VII development with 185 hp (138 kW) BMW IIIa engine
Fokker V 35
Two-seat development with 185 hp (138 kW) BMW IIIa engine and undercarriage fuel tank
Fokker V 36
D.VII development with 185 hp (138 kW) BMW IIIa engine and undercarriage fuel tank
Fokker V 38
Prototype Fokker C.I
D.VII
Production aircraft from Fokker; either from their wartime Schwerin/Görries headquarters, or post-Armistice, in the Netherlands.
D.VII(Alb)
Production aircraft from Albatros Flugzeugwerke in Johannisthal, Berlin
D.VII(MAG)
Production by Magyar Altalános Gepgyár RT - (MAG) at Mátyásföld, near Budapest[8]
D.VII(OAW)
Production aircraft from Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke in Schneidemühl.
MAG-Fokker 90.05
The Fokker V 22 powered by a 200 hp (150 kW) Austro-Daimler 200hp 6-cyl..[9]
Fokker D.VII Lithuanian versions
1 D.VII powered by Siddeley Puma, produced in 1928; 2 D.VII, powered by Mercedes D.III, produced in 1930. Both types featured larger engine cowling and radiator under the nose.


Operators
Interned Fokker D.VII in Swiss markings
Fokker D.VII "U.10" of Jasta 65 on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.

Survivors
Main article: List of surviving Fokker D.VIIs
Fokker D.VII preserved at the Deutsches Museum in Oberschleißheim
Fokker D.VII displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum

Reproductions
Airworthy Fokker D.VII reproduction incorporating an original engine and parts
Preserved D.VII on display at the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum in Soesterberg, Netherlands

Many modern D.VII reproductions have been built. Most flyable examples are powered by Ranger or Gipsy Queen inverted-six cylinder inline engines. These engines, especially the Ranger units, must be turned upright to produce the correct thrust line, thus requiring a new oiling system. A few flying reproductions, such as the one at New York State's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, are equipped with original Mercedes D.IIIa engines.[13]

Specifications (D.VII with Mercedes D.III engine)

Data from [14]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.954 m (22 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.9 m (29 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 20.5 m2 (221 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 670 kg (1,477 lb)
  • Gross weight: 906 kg (1,997 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
or 1 × 130.5 kW (175 hp) Mercedes D.IIIa 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine
or 1 × 137.95 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line piston engine (180 kW (240 hp) rating at low level, emergency only, risk of engine damage.)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 189 km/h (117 mph, 102 kn)
with BMW IIIa engine - 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn)
  • Range: 266 km (165 mi, 144 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft) [15]
  • Rate of climb: 3.92 m/s (772 ft/min)
with BMW IIIa engine – 9.52 metres per second (1,874 ft/min)
  • Time to altitude: [16]
1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 4 minutes 15 seconds (1 minutes 40 seconds w/ BMW IIIa)
2,000 m (6,562 ft) in 8 minutes 18 seconds (4 minutes 5 seconds w/ BMW IIIa)
3,000 m (9,843 ft) in 13 minutes 49 seconds (7 minutes 0 seconds w/ BMW IIIa)
4,000 m (13,123 ft) in 22 minutes 48 seconds (10 minutes 15 seconds w/ BMW IIIa)
5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 38 minutes 5 seconds (14 minutes 0 seconds w/ BMW IIIa)
6,000 m (19,685 ft) (18 minutes 45 seconds w/ BMW IIIa)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 "Spandau" machine guns
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See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. "First World War". www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2018. "A. - CLAUSES RELATING TO THE WESTERN FRONT. - IV. - Surrender in good condition by the German Armies of the following equipment:-5,000 guns (2,500 heavy, 2,500 field)...25,000 machine guns...3,000 trench mortars...1,700 aeroplanes (fighters, bombers - firstly all D.7's and night-bombing machines).
  2. Gray, Peter; Thetford, Owen (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 105–108. ISBN 978-0-370-00103-6.
  3. "The Aerofile - The Fokker D.VII File - Production differences". aerofile.info. 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019. Basically, there are four different cowling layouts of D.VII’s. First, there’s the original V.11 and early Fokker built production aircraft, with the twin exhaust pipes on the right side of the 160 hp Mercedes engine. This type of cowling can also be seen on D.VII(Alb.) 527/18, the first Albatros production aircraft. Later Fokker D.VII(F) aircraft had a different exhaust pipe for the 175 hp Mercedes or 185 hp BMW engine, and the cowling had more cooling louvres...D.VII’s built by Albatros had also more cooling louvres, in a different layout...The O.A.W. built D.VII’s can be easily identified, since they have cowlings with 20 round shaped cooling openings on both sides. Some sources state that only O.A.W. painted the cowlings in a lozenge camouflage pattern.
  4. Owers 1995, pp. 67–66
  5. Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1971). United States military aircraft since 1908 (Rev. ed.). Putnam. p. 610. ISBN 0370000943.
  6. Owers 1995, pp. 69–70.
  7. Owers 1995, p. 68
  8. Grosz, Peter M.; Haddow, George; Scheiner, Peter (2002) [1993]. Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. Boulder: Flying Machine Press. pp. 351–353. ISBN 1-891268-05-8.
  9. Grosz, Peter M.; Haddow, George; Scheiner, Peter (2002) [1993]. Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. Boulder: Flying Machine Press. pp. 343–345. ISBN 1-891268-05-8.
  10. Owers 1996, p. 54
  11. Owers 1996, p. 55
  12. Owers 1996, p. 53
  13. "World War I (1914-1918) « Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome". oldrhinebeck.org. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  14. The Fokker D.VII. Aircraft Profiles. 25. Leatherhead, UK: Profile Publications.
  15. The Rand McNally encyclopedia of military aircraft, 1914-1980. Military Press. p. 47. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  16. "BMW DVII factory figures". Flugsport. 1919.

Bibliography
  • Gray, Peter; Thetford, Owen (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-370-00103-6.
  • Imrie, Alex (1971). Pictorial History Of The German Army Air Service 1914 - 1918. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Limited.
  • Imrie, Alex (1978). German Fighter Units June 1917 - 1918. London: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-85045-289-9.
  • Imrie, Alex (1986). Fokker Fighters Of World War One. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-782-X.
  • Imrie, Alex (1987). German Air Aces Of World War One. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-792-7.
  • Owers, Colin (November–December 1995). ""Especially... The D.VII...": The post-1918 career of the Fokker D.VII: Part One". Air Enthusiast. No. 60. pp. 63–70. ISSN 0143-5450.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Owers, Colin (January–February 1996). ""Especially... The D.VII...": The post-1918 career of the Fokker D.VII: Part Two". Air Enthusiast. No. 61. pp. 52–63. ISSN 0143-5450.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1971). United States military aircraft since 1908,. Putnam. ISBN 0370000943.
  • Weyl, A.R. (1988). Fokker : the Creative Years. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-817-8.
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