|
|
The Fokker DR1 Triplane History
The Fokker DR1 triplane was designed
by Reinhold Platz and manufactured by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke in
Schwerin, Germany. It was developed, in response to Britain’s
Sopwith Triplane, as a WW1 fighter aircraft and was fitted with 2
Spandau IMG 08 machine guns. It’s first flight took place on July 5,
1917. The initial prototype was designated V.4 quickly followed by
an updated version V.5, which was given the serial number 101/17.
Following testing, two pre production aircraft, serial nos 102/17
and 103/17 were designated F.1 and sent to Jastas 10 and 11 for
combat evaluation. The pre production aircraft that followed were
designated DR1. There were a total of 4 variants, V.4, V.5, V.6 and
V.7. Version 6 was fitted with a Mercedes D.II engine and version 7
with a Siemens-Halske Sh.III engine.
The Fokker DR1
Triplane
Operational History
German WW1 ace Manfred von Richthofen, aka the Red Baron, flew
102/17 for the first time on September 1, 1917, and, after shooting
down two enemy aircraft over the following few days, he reported it
to be superior to Britain’s Sopwith Triplane. He then made a
recommendation that German fighter squadrons should be supplied with
the Fokker DR1 triplane as soon as possible. Following successful
combat evaluations by Jastas 10 and 11, the Fokker DR1 triplane
began to be delivered to other Jastas during October 1917.
The pilots found
the this aircraft to be highly manoeuvrable with powerful and light
elevator and rudder controls, however it proved to be slower than
the allied aircraft of the time. Other flaws included cramped and
inferior cockpits, a poor field of vision when landing and taking
off, and wing failure. During the inspection of several Fokker DR1 triplanes, that had suffered wing failure, it was discovered that
poor manufacture and deficient waterproofing had allowed moisture to
penetrate the wing structure and cause it to disintegrate. This led
to improved quality control at Fokker-Flugzeugwerke, and repairs and
modifications to many of the triplanes, at the manufacturer’s
expense.
The Fokker DR1 triplane is best know for being the aircraft that German WW1 ace
Manfred von Richthofen, aka the Red Baron, scored his final
victories in. It was also the aircraft in which he died.
There are no
surviving Fokker DR1 triplanes, however many replicas have been
constructed for museums, such as the National Museum of the United
States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, and some private owners.
Various scale
models, model kits and plans of this aircraft have been available in
the market place.
Fokker DR1
Triplane Specifications:
Fokker DR1
Crew:
Pilot
Fokker DR1
Length: 18ft 11in (5.77m)
Fokker DR1
Wingspan: 23ft 7in (7.19m)
Fokker DR1
Height: 9ft 8in (2.95m)
Fokker DR1
Wing area: 201ft² (18.7 m²)
Fokker DR1
Empty weight: 895lb (406kg)
Fokker DR1
Loaded weight: 1,291lb (586kg)
Fokker DR1
Engine: Single Oberursel Ur.II 9-cylinder rotary engine, 82
kW (110 hp)
Fokker DR1
Maximum speed: 115mph (185 km/h)
Fokker DR1
Range: 185 mi (300 km)
Fokker DR1
Service Ceiling: 20,000ft (6,100m)
Fokker Dr1 Triplane Armament
Guns:
2 × .312 in (7.92 mm) Spandau IMG 08 machine guns
|
|
