Fokker D.VII

1917

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Fokker D.VII

Ordered on 20 September 1917 as a parallel development to the rotary-engined V 9 (from which was to be derived the D VI), the V 11, powered by a 160hp Mercedes D III six-cylinder water-cooled engine, was the progenitor of the D VII, the most famous of all German World War I fighters. Of mixed construction like preceding Fokker fighters, the V11 flew in December 1917, but revealed some directional instability and other shortcomings. These were rectified by lengthening the fuselage, reducing the wing gap and stagger, etc, and the V 11 competed at Adlershof, together with the essentially similar V18, in the January 1918 D-type contest. Pronounced winning contenders by the Idflieg, these prototypes provided the basis for a fighter to which the designation D VII was assigned, contracts being placed with Fokker at Schwerin and the Albatros factories at Johannisthal and Schneidemuhl (OAW). Other prototypes comprised V 21, the 200hp Austro-Daimler-engined V 22 - which was to be evaluated at Aspern in July 1918 - and the 185hp BMW Illa-engined V 24. This last served as the prototype of the similarlypowered D VIIF. Armed with two 7.92mm LMG 08/15 guns, the D Ill-powered D VII began to reach the Front in April 1918, followed closely by the BMW Illa-powered D VIIF, and licence production of the D VII with the Austro-Daimler engine was undertaken by MAG (Magyar Altalanos Gepgyar) in Hungary. In the event, MAG completed only 12 D VIIs, and these postwar. Fokker produced 877 series D VIIs (of which six were supplied to MAG as pattern aircraft together with the V 22), and 923 and 826 were built respectively by the Johannisthal and Schneidemuhl facilities of Albatros. Ninety-eight D VIIs were smuggled from Germany to the Netherlands after the Armistice, of which 22 went to the LVA (Luchtvaartafdeling), 20 to the MLD {Marine Luchtvaartdienst), six to the KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger) and the remaining 50 were sold to the Soviet Union. Eight D VIIs and two D VIIFs were acquired from the Allied Control Commission by the Swiss Fliegertruppe- one of these later being fitted with an Hispano-Suiza 8Fb engine as the D VIIS - which obtained a further six overhauled D VIIs in 1925 from the Swiss Alfred Comte concern, which went on to build eight D VIIs during 1928-29. A total of 142 D VIIs was shipped to the USA in 1919 for evaluation and use by the US Army's Air Service, at least a dozen of these being used at McCook Field for experimental work with various engines, including the 230 and 290hp Liberty, 200hp Hall-Scott L-6 and 375hp Packard 1A-1237. Several more D VIIs were purchased in 1920 for the Air Service from Fokker, and other countries to adopt the D VII post-World War I included Belgium, which received 75 from March 1919. Of these, 35 were-delivered to the Army's Aviation Militate, remaining in service until 1931.

Fokker D.VII

Specification 
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight910 kg2006 lb
  Empty weight684 kg1508 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan8.90 m29 ft 2 in
  Length6.95 m23 ft 10 in
  Height2.75 m9 ft 0 in
  Wing area20.20 m2217.43 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed185 km/h115 mph

Comments
Max Doda, 10.10.2017 19:59

Fokker D.VII = probably the best fighter of the war. (In my opinion).

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Doug Witherspoon, e-mail, 08.10.2014 05:00

There is a DVII in a wonderful museum in a place called Knowlton, quebec. The last I heard was that the Ottawa Air Museum picks it up once a year and maintains it in flying condition and then returns it for display. This is in the Eastern Townships north of the Vermont border. They also have a 17-pdr. anti-tank gun on display outside.

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Chris Crighton, e-mail, 31.03.2013 04:56

Craig, the D-VII wasn't mentioned in the 1919 treaty--it was mentioned in the 1918 Armistice.

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Tricky Loopsy, 19.12.2011 18:51

I love the body and the stucture in "N" on the wings. It's very good for stall!!!

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baiwang, 18.06.2011 12:26

Others were to be destroyed, these were to be turned over for use. Shows high respect.

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John McCombs, e-mail, 11.04.2011 03:43

I would also like dimentioal plans for this aircraft if they are available

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keith turner, e-mail, 07.04.2011 11:10

i would like to build a model of this type of aircraft would you have plans?

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Craig Wyatt, e-mail, 28.01.2011 00:20

I've always heard that the D.VII was the only aircraft mentioned by name in the Treaty of Versailles. It's a great story, but alas, it might be an urban myth. I've just spent most of an afternoon going through four different texts of the treaty, and I could find no such provision. I'd be glad to have someone tell me I missed something.

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Pamela Dunn, e-mail, 16.01.2011 01:03

Built a Semi-Scale Control Line kit model of the D VII way back in 1967; flew it with an Enya 35 engine. Great flier, took 2nd place in Semi Scale at a contest.

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Bob Lawler, e-mail, 10.06.2010 22:19

From what I understand, this was the only aircraft to be specified by name to be surrendered to the Allies following the Armistice. Others were to be destroyed, these were to be turned over for use. Shows high respect.

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Todd Senseny, e-mail, 17.01.2010 00:37

Arguably the best fighter aircraft of the war. My dream plane. Awesome site.

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Alexander Bereczki, e-mail, 16.11.2009 14:01

Hi I'm Alex!
I've interested in this airplane.I'm hungarian,and someone i like to build a replikator.
Have you sand me Fokker Dvii v35 pictures?

Thank's so much!

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Richard Sager, e-mail, 24.10.2009 22:48

Nice picture and a very informative write-up.

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Volker Steiger, 01.10.2008 17:38

Very nice Fighter...

reply

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