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Subject: Fokker D.VIII
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_D.VIII
The Fokker E.V was a German parasol-monoplane fighter aircraft designed by
Reinhold Platz and built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The E.V was the last Fokker
last months of World War I. After several fatal accidents due to wing failures,
the aircraft was modified and redesignated Fokker D.VIII. Dubbed the Flying
Razor by Allied pilots, the D.VIII had the distinction of scoring the last
aerial victory of the war.
In early 1918, Fokker produced several rotary-powered monoplane prototypes. Of
these, Fokker submitted the V.26 and V.28, small parasol-winged monoplanes with
his usual steel-tube fuselages, for the second fighter trials at Adlershof in
May/June 1918. The V.28 was tested with both the 108 kW (145 hp) Oberursel
UR.III and 119 kW (160 hp) Goebel Goe.III, though neither of these engines were
ready for operational service. The V.26 utilized the standard Oberursel UR.II
engine, producing only 82 kW (110 hp). While this engine was obsolete, the
V.26's low drag and light weight meant that it was nevertheless quite fast. The
Fokker designs were only barely beaten by the Siemens-Schuckert D.III with the
complex bi-rotary Siemens-Halske Sh.III engine.
In the end, the V.26 was ordered into production as the Fokker E.V. Four hundred
were ordered immediately with either the UR.III or Goe.III. Because neither
engine was available in any quantity, all production examples mounted the UR.II.
Role
Fighter
Manufacturer
Fokker-Flugzeugwerke
Designer
Reinhold Platz
First flight
May 1918
Primary user
Number built
approximately 381
The first production E.V aircraft were shipped to Jasta 6 in late July. The new
monoplane was also delivered to Jasta 1, Jasta 19, Jasta 24 and Jasta 36.
Leutnant Emil Rolff scored the first kill in an E.V on August 17, 1918, but two
days later he was killed when his aircraft's wing collapsed in flight. After
another E.V of Jasta 19 crashed, Idflieg grounded all E.V aircraft. Pending the
investigation of these wing failures, production ceased at the Fokker
Flugzeugwerke. According to Fokker, the wing failures were caused by the army
technical bureau, which had forced him to modify the original design by
over-strengthening the rear main spar. This faulty design allegedly caused the
wing to twist and fail. Fokker claimed that this defect was resolved by
reverting to his original design.
Tests showed that, when properly constructed, the original E.V wing had a
considerable margin of safety. Satisfied that the basic design was safe, Idflieg
authorized continued production, after personnel changes and improved quality
control measures were introduced at the Perzina factory.
Deliveries resumed in October. At the direction of the Kogenluft
modified aircraft D.VIII. Henceforth, the "E." and "Dr." designations were
abolished and all fighters received the "D." appellation. The D.VIII commenced
operations on 24 October with Jasta 11. The aircraft proved to be agile and easy
to fly. Allied pilots nicknamed it the Flying Razor, because of its sleek
appearance and single wing.
Jasta 5 was issued a D.VIII. The famed ace Erich Lowenhardt used the aircraft
for a short time and scored a few victories in it, but he continued to favour
the Fokker D.VII.
A total of 381 aircraft were produced, but only some 85 aircraft reached
frontline service before the Armistice. Some reached Italy, Japan, the United
States, and England as trophies, but most were scrapped in accordance with the
terms of the Armistice.
Specifications (D.VIII)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 5.86 m (19 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 8.34 m (27 ft 4 in)
Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 10.7 m2 (115 sq ft)
Empty weight: 405 kg (893 lb)
Gross weight: 605 kg (1,334 lb)
(110 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed: 204 km/h (127 mph; 110 kn)
Endurance: 1.5 hours
Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,685 ft)
Rate of climb: 8.333 m/s (1,640.4 ft/min)
Time to altitude:
1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 2 minutes
4,000 m (13,123 ft) in 10 minutes 45 seconds
Armament
*
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