The Fokker E.IV History
The Fokker E.IV was designed by Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker and built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke in Germany. It was an Eindecker fighter monoplane flown by Germany during WW1. It was developed from the Fokker EIII, gaining length, the capacity to carry two or three LMG 08 Spandau machine guns (two guns being the standard) and a more powerful engine. The prototype was first flown during September 1915. There were four variants in total, the E.I, E.II, E.III and E.IV. a total of 49 Fokker E.IV aircraft were built overall.

The Fokker E.IV Operational History
A modified prototype of the Fokker E.IV was evaluated for combat use in October 1915, when Oberleutnant Otto Parschau flew it on the Western Front. In November 1915 it was evaluated at Fokker’s factory by German ace Oswald Boelcke. It was evident to the pilots that the more powerful engine didn’t improve the aircraft, it actually made it harder to handle as it became less manoeuvrable due to the forces created by the heavier engine’s rotation. The engine also lost power after a few hours of operation. This aircraft was obsolete by December 1916.

The only Eindecker known to have survived is currently being displayed in the Science Museum, London. It is shown without it’s fabric covering so that it’s construction can be seen.

Various scale models, model kits and plans of this aircraft have been available in the market place.

Fokker E.IV Specifications:

Fokker E.IV Crew: Pilot
Fokker E.IV Length: 24ft 7in (7.5m)
Fokker E.IV Wingspan: 32ft 10in (10.00m)
Fokker E.IV Height: 8ft 10in (2.7m)
Fokker E.IV Wing area: 171ft² (15.9m²)
Fokker E.IV Empty weight: 1,027lb (466kg)
Fokker E.IV Maximum takeoff weight: 1,596lb (724kg)
Fokker E.IV Engine: Single Oberursel U.III 14-cyl. two-row air-cooled rotary piston engine, 119 kW (160 hp)
Fokker E.IV Maximum speed: 106mph (170 km/h)
Fokker E.IV Range: 149 mi (240 km)
Fokker E.IV Service Ceiling: 12,990ft (3,960m)

Fokker E.IV Armament

Guns:
2 or 3 × .312 in (7.92 mm) LMG 08 Spandau machine guns