Fokker D.VIII
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Fokker-Flugzeugwerke
Designed by	Reinhold Platz
Maiden flight	May 1918
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Number built	approximately 289

The Fokker E.V was a parasol-monoplane fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz and built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. It entered service with the Luftstreitkräfte in the last months of the First World War. Dubbed the Flying Razor by Allied pilots, it had the distinction of scoring the last aerial victory of the war. After several fatal accidents due to wing failures, the aircraft was modified and redesignated Fokker D.VIII. Image File history File linksMetadata Fd8. ... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... Fokkers first airplane, the Spin (1910) Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1918: Events February February 5 - 2nd Lt Stephen Thompson claims the first aerial victory for the US Air Service. ... The Luftstreitkräfte or Imperial German Army Air Service (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches), was the over-land air arm of the German military during World War I (1914–1918). ... An amateur-built aircraft featuring a parasol wing A parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Fokkers first airplane, the Spin (1910) Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. ... The Luftstreitkräfte or Imperial German Army Air Service (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches), was the over-land air arm of the German military during World War I (1914–1918). ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Design and development

Fokker E.V

In early 1918, Fokker produced several rotary-powered monoplane designs. 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 145 hp Oberursel UR.III and 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 110 hp. While this engine was obsolete, the V.26's low drag and light weight meant the V.26 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. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... District Adlershof in borough Treptow-Köpenick of Berlin Adlershof is a district in the borough Treptow-Köpenick of Berlin, Germany. ... Motorenfabrik Oberursel A.G. was a German manufacturer of automobile, locomotive and aircraft engines. ... Motorenfabrik Oberursel A.G. was a German manufacturer of automobile, locomotive and aircraft engines. ... The Siemens-Schuckert D.IV was a late-World War I fighter aircraft from Siemens-Schuckert (SSW). ... It has been suggested that Siemens-Schuckert (Aircraft) be merged into this article or section. ...

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.

Operational service

Fokker E.V

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. 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 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Fokd8-2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Fokd8-2. ... The Idflieg (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen - Inspectorate of Flying Troops) was the bureau of the German War Office that oversaw German military aviation prior to and during World War I. Categories: Stub ...

According to most other accounts, the source of the wing failures lay not in the design, but in shoddy and rushed construction. Fokker had subcontracted construction of the E.V wings to the Perzina Pianoforte Fabrik factory. Due to poor quality control, the spar "caps" forming the upper and lower pieces of the spar assmembly had been placed too far apart during the fabrication. Because the resulting spars were too large to pass through the ribs, excess material was simply planned away from the caps, leaving the assembled spars dangerously weak.

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 at the Perzina factory. The Idflieg (Inspektion der Fliegertruppen - Inspectorate of Flying Troops) was the bureau of the German War Office that oversaw German military aviation prior to and during World War I. Categories: Stub ...

Deliveries resumed in October. At the suggestion of the Kogenluft (Kommandierenden General der Luftstreitkräfte), the Idflieg redesignated the modified aircraft D.VIII. Henceforth, the "E." and "Dr." designations were abolished and all fighters received the "D." appellation. The first new examples of the D. VIII started arriving at frontline units late that month and started operations on the 24 October with Jasta 11. The Jagd-Staffel 11 (Pursuit-Squadron 11), also known as the Richthofen Squadron was founded in September 1916 ,as part of the German Air forces expansion programme, forming permanent specialised air fighting squadrons or Jastas. Its first commander was Oberleutnant Rudolf Lang, although Jasta 11s first months of...

A total of 289 aircraft were produced. Some reached Holland, Italy, Japan, the United States, and England as trophies, but most were scrapped in accordance with the terms of the Armistice.

Postwar

The Polish Air Force captured 17 aircraft, but only seven (six E.V and one D.VIII) were in airworthy condition. All were used against Soviet forces in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-20. Lieutenant Stefan Stec earned the first kill for thr Polish Air Force by shooting down one Ukrainian Nieuport fighter on 29 April 1919. In 1921, the remaining aircraft were withdrawn from frontline units and transferred to the Szkoła Obsługi Lotniczej (Air Personnel School) at Poznań-Ławica airfield. Flag of the Polish Air Force Polish Air Force (SiÅ‚y Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, SiÅ‚y Powietrzne RP). ... Combatants Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Republic of Poland Ukrainian Peoples Republic Commanders Mikhail Tukhachevsky Semyon Budyonny Józef PiÅ‚sudski Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Strength 950,000 combatants 5,000,000 reserves 360,000 combatants 738,000 reserves Casualties Dead estimated at 100,000... Nieuport was a French aeroplane manufacturer founded in 1909 by Édouard de Nié Port. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... PoznaÅ„-Ławica Airport built in 1913 is one of the oldest airports in Poland. ...

Survivors

The fuselage of one D.VIII is preserved at the Caproni Museum in Trento, Italy. Panorama of Trento. ...

Reproductions

A number of static and flyable reproductions of the D VIII have been made over the years-among the most notable of these have been the two 160 hp Gnome rotary engine powered flyable examples constructed by Brian Coughlin of New York State, and are now in the hands of Javier Arango of California, and at Kermit Weeks' Fantasy of Flight aviation museum in Florida. Fantasy of Flight is an aviation-related attraction in Polk City, Florida, USA. 1400 Broadway Blvd SE Polk City, FL 33868 (863) 984-3500 Located midway between Tampa and Orlando in Polk City, Florida, Fantasy of Flight is an aviation-themed attraction that takes visitors back to Early Flight, World...

Operators

Fokker D.VIII in Dutch markings

 German Empire

Luftstreitkräfte received 38 aircraft before 11 November 1918.

 Netherlands

Royal Netherlands Air Force received 20 D.VIII aircraft smuggled from Germany by Anthony Fokker in 1919.

 Poland

Polish Air Force captured 16 E.V and one D.VIII aircraft, only 7 were operated. Last E.V was still in inventory of the PAF in 1924.

 Soviet Union

One Polish aircraft was captured by the Red Army during Polish-Soviet War and used by the Soviet Air Force until the mid-1920s.

Image File history File linksMetadata FokkerD.VIII.jpg‎ source: http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata FokkerD.VIII.jpg‎ source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_German_Empire. ... Motto Gott mit Uns (German: God with us”) Anthem Heil dir im Siegerkranz (unofficial) Territory of the German Empire in 1914, prior to World War I Capital Berlin Language(s) Official: German Unofficial minority languages: Danish, French, Frisian, Polish, Sorbian Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor  - 1871–1888 William I  - 1888 Frederick... The Luftstreitkräfte or Imperial German Army Air Service (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches), was the over-land air arm of the German military during World War I (1914–1918). ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Image:Flag of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. ... Anton Herman Gerard Anthony Fokker (April 6, 1890 – December 23, 1939), was born in Kediri (Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia) and became a Dutch aircraft manufacturer. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Soviet Air Force, also known under the abbreviation VVS, transliterated from Russian: ВВС, Военно-воздушные силы (Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily), formed the official designation of the air force of the Soviet Union. ...

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 19 ft 4 in (5.86 m)
• Wingspan: 27 ft 6.75 in (8.40 m)
• Height: 9 ft 3 in (2.80 m)
• Wing area: 115.5 ft² (10.7 m²)
• Empty weight: 848 lb (384 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,238 lb (562 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Oberursel UR.II , 110 hp (82 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 127 mph (204 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 20,670 ft (6,300 m)

Armament

• 2 × 7.92 mm Spandau MG08 machine guns

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... Motorenfabrik Oberursel A.G. was a German manufacturer of automobile, locomotive and aircraft engines. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... MG08 with optical sight. ...

References

• Weyl, A.R. Fokker: The Creative Years. 1988. ISBN 0-851778-17-8.

Related content

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Designation sequence

E.I - E.II - E.III - E.IV - E.V Max Immelmann of Feldflieger Abteilung 62 in the cockpit of his Fokker E.I. The Fokker E.I was the first successful fighter aircraft, entering combat with the German Army Air Service in mid-1915 which marked the start of a period known as the Fokker Scourge during which the... The first production Fokker E.II.. The Fokker E.II was the second variant of the German Fokker Eindecker single-seat monoplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. ... Captured E.III 210/16 in flight at Upavon, Wiltshire in 1916. ... The Fokker E.IV was the final variant of the Fokker Eindecker fighter aircraft that was operated by Germany during the First World War. ...

Related lists

List of military aircraft of Germany This list of military aircraft of Germany includes prototype, pre-production, and operational types. ...

See also