Fokker Dr.I
| Fokker Dr.I | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Fokker |
| Designer | Reinhold Platz |
| Introduction | late Aug 1917[1][2][note 1][note 2] |
| Primary user |  Germany
|
| Number built | 320[1][5] |
| Wingspan | 7.19 m (23 ft 7 in) [6][7][8][9] |
| Propeller Diam. | 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in)[8] |
| Engine | 110hp Thulin rotary or 110hp Oberursel UR II rotary[note 3] |
| Armament | 2×sync. LMG08/15 |
| Ammo | 1000 rounds[8][11] |
| Crew | 1 |
| Max Speed | 165 km/h (103 mph)[12][13][7][9] - 185 km/h (115 mph)[6] |
| Climb | 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 2:54[12][9] 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 3:45[6] to 6:05[8] 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 6:30[6] 4,000 m (13,100 ft) in 15:15[8] |
| Ceiling | 6,000 m (19,600 ft)[6][7] to 6,100 m (20,000 ft)[12][13][8][9] |
| Endurance | 1:30 [12][13][7][8][9] |
The one WWI plane everyone knows is the Fokker Dr.I, though it was built in limited numbers and had a short career. The Triplane's fame was boosted by its famous pilots, most from Richtofen Geschwader, such as Manfred and Lothar von Richtofen and Werner Voss. After their introduction in August 1917, several triplanes were found to have broken up in mid-air and the type was grounded near the end of October. Corrections were made and the type resumed flights on November 10.[2] The grounding slowed production though, and though there were projected to be 173 Dr.Is delivered by December, it was probably closer to thirty-three.[14]
The triplane was quite maneuverable, but -- underpowered by the standards of the time -- it was also slow and lacked performance at altitude, so Idflieg limited production to only 320 machines and they hit their peak in April 1918 with 171 Triplanes at the front. Due to von Richtofen's legend, the Dr.I will always remain iconic. It was flown by most of the famous German aces of the time, including Udet, von Tutscheck, Goering, and Voss.
The decision to use a rotary engine was not one of optimal performance; it was practicality, because inline engines were in short supply at the time if its design.[15] After the superior Fokker D.VII made its appearance in summer of 1918, the Dr.Is were relegated to home-defense duties.[16]
For more information, see Wikipedia:Fokker Dr.I.
Timeline
Game Data
Wings of Glory
| Availability | Maneuver | Damage | Dmg Points | Max Alt. | Climb | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug17-end | D | A | 13 | 14 | 2 | 85 |
Plane and Crew Cards
-
Jasta 11
RAF -
Jasta 2
Frommherz
RAF -
Jasta 7
Jacobs
RAF -
Jasta 4&6
Kirchstein
RAF -
Jasta 27
Klimke
RAF -
JG III
Loerzer
RAF -
Jasta 2
Papenmeyer
RAF -
Jasta 14
Preiß
RAF -
Jasta 18
Raben
RAF -
Jasta 34b
Stark
RAF -
Jasta 11
Steinhäuser
RAF -
Jasta 10
Voss
RAF -
Jasta 10
Voss
RAF -
Jasta 11
Weiss
RAF -
Jasta 11
RAF -
Jasta 2
Baumer
Guntruck -
Jasta 2
Baumer
Guntruck -
Jasta 2
Loffler
Guntruck -
Jasta 2
Papenmeyer
Guntruck -
Jasta 2
Plange
Guntruck -
Jasta 11
Steinhauser
Guntruck -
Jasta 18
Raben
Guntruck -
Jasta 18
Raben
Guntruck -
Jasta 26
Esswein
Guntruck -
Jasta 26
Loerzer
Guntruck -
Jasta 34B
Greim
Guntruck -
Jasta 34B
Pütz
Guntruck
Card Links
- Jagdgeschwader 1 - M. von Richtofen
- Jagdgeschwader 1 - M. von Richtofen
- Jasta 2 - Wolf
- Jasta 7 - Jacobs
- Jasta 7 - Jacobs
- Jasta 7 - Jacobs
- Jasta 7 - Raben
- Jasta 11 - Mohnicke
- Jasta 11 - L. von Ricthofen
- Jasta 11 - W. von Richtofen
- Jasta 11 - Sieradzki
- Jasta 11 - Weiss
- Jasta 13 - Berthold
- Jasta 13 - Schwartz
- Jasta 18 - Raben
- Jasta 18 - Raben
Black WPAF- Gold Triplane
- White Triplane
- Pink Triplane
Blue Max/Canvas Eagles
Miniatures and Models
1:100 Scale
- Shapeways: wwwitalik
1:144 Scale
- Full-color miniatures:
- Ares: WGF104A Manfred von Richtofen; WGS104B Kirschstein; WGS104C Lothar von Richtofen
- Shapeways Full Color: Reduced Aircraft Factory: 502/17 [11], Frommherz [2], Jacobs [7], Klimke [27], Lörzer [JGIII], Papenmeyer [2], Preiß [14], Raben [18], Stark [34b], Steinhauser [11], Voss (olive or yellow) [10], Weiss [11], black stripes [11]
- Wings of War Deluxe Set: M. von Richtofen
- Wings of War: WW07J von Richtofen; WW07K Kempf; WW07L Rahn
- Shapeways: Decapod, Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory, wwwitalik
- Plastic or Resin kit: Sram 144/013 (company defunct), Valom 14407, 14421
- Resin Model: Paint & Glue
- Metal kit: Red Eagle, Reviresco
1:200 Scale
- Shapeways: Kampfflieger, wwwitalik
1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale
- Shapeways: Decapod; Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory, wwwitalik
- Metal Kit: CinC MS-11
- Metal Cast: Goblintooth/H.A./MSD GEG-01
1:300 Scale
- Metal Kit: Heroics & Ros GWA303
1:350 Scale
1:500 Scale
- Shapeways: wwwitalik
1:600 Scale
- Metal kit: Tumbling Dice
Resources
Orthographic Drawings
-
late-profile ailerons
References
- Notes
- ↑ The introduction of series planes was held up until November due to structural problems and doubts.[3]
- ↑ Three prototypes arrived for operational testing at the front in August 1917. Production aircraft arrived in October, shortly before they were grounded.[4]
- ↑ Small numbers used the 145hp Oberursel UR.III or 110hp Goebel Goe.II or the 160hp Goebel Goe.III.[10]
- Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gray, p.98.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rimell, p.1.
- ↑ Angelucci, p.57.
- ↑ Bruce'65, p.5.
- ↑ Bruce'65, p.10.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lamberton, pp.218-219.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Angelucci, p.47.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Bruce'65, p.12.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Argus Vol. 2, p.78.
- ↑ Bruce'65, pp.6-7.
- ↑ Kelly, p.230.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Gray, p.101.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Munson, p.77.
- ↑ Bruce'65, p.6.
- ↑ Bruce'65, p.3.
- ↑ Bruce'65, p.9.
- Bibliography
- Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
- Argus Books, Airplane Archive: Aircraft of World War One, Volume 2. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-984-3
- J.M. Bruce, Profile Publications 55: The Fokker Dr.I. Great Britain: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965.
- Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
- Kevin Kelly, "Belts and Drums: A Survey of First World War Aircraft Ammunition Totals". Over the Front, Vol. 5, No. 3, Autumn 1990. Walsworth Publishing Co, Inc. and The League of World War I Aviation Historians.
- W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
- Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
- Raymond L. Rimell, Windsock Datafile 5: Fokker Triplane. Great Britain: Albatros Publications Ltd., 1987. ISBN 0-948414-03-0