D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The D.VII, designed by Platz, did appear late at the front line of the First World War.
Originated from the V.11, the V.18 was finally accepted by the German Idflieg and appeared at the front in April / May 1918 as D.VII.
It was the best Fokker fighter aircraft used in World War I, both in terms of quality and performance.
The plane has been used in no less than 19 countries, not only during the First World War, but in some countries, including the Netherlands, until 1938.
After the Armistice of November 11, 1918, 142 captured D.VIIs went to the United States.
It was the most built Fokker plane ever; no less than 3300 units. Hundreds of which are built under license by four different companies.
The German authorities ordered Fokker to have the D.VII built under license with its direct German competitors, Albatros and the Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke.
This was because Fokker had received an initial order from the German army to supply 400 planes and the German authorities saw that this production could not take place in the crowded Fokker factory in Schwerin.
Albatros built more D.VIIs than Fokker himself!
After the First World War, D.VIIs were still produced in 1919-1920 in the Fokker factory in Amsterdam North, for example for the LVA (Dutch air force).
In 1929, a number of D.VIIs were licensed for the Swiss Air Force in Switzerland.
Initially, the D.VII was equipped with a 160 hp 6-cylinder water-cooled Mercedes D. IIIa in-line engine, later a 185 hp 6-cylinder BMW IIIa engine was used, which achieved a top speed of 185 km / h.
The BMW engine gave the D.VII an ascent speed of 9.5 meters. per second.
A later version of the D.VII used a 230 hp Armstrong Siddeley Puma.
The aircraft on which the BMW IIIa was tested was the “Versuchmachinen” 24, V.24.
The production planes with the BMW IIIa were designated as D.VII F, the F came from the surname of the designer of the BMW IIIa, Max Friz.
The armament consisted of two 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns.
The D.VII has also served in the Dutch armed forces.
In October, November 1918, 6 interned D.VIIs were employed by the LVA, the Dutch Army Aviation Department.
In 1920 Fokker built 22 copies for the LVA, which served until 1938.
20 of them served with the MLD, Naval Aviation Service from 1920 to 1937.
And in Indonesia 6 have flown at the KNIL, Royal Dutch East Indies Army.
There are still original copies in museums in Canada, England, Germany, France, USA and in the Dutch NMM, National Military Museum in Soesterberg.
Worldwide there are dozens of static and flying replicas of the D.VII.
Click on the photo to enlarge the photo
Originated from the V.11, the V.18 was finally accepted by the German Idflieg and appeared at the front in April / May 1918 as D.VII.
It was the best Fokker fighter aircraft used in World War I, both in terms of quality and performance.
The plane has been used in no less than 19 countries, not only during the First World War, but in some countries, including the Netherlands, until 1938.
After the Armistice of November 11, 1918, 142 captured D.VIIs went to the United States.
It was the most built Fokker plane ever; no less than 3300 units. Hundreds of which are built under license by four different companies.
The German authorities ordered Fokker to have the D.VII built under license with its direct German competitors, Albatros and the Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke.
This was because Fokker had received an initial order from the German army to supply 400 planes and the German authorities saw that this production could not take place in the crowded Fokker factory in Schwerin.
Albatros built more D.VIIs than Fokker himself!
After the First World War, D.VIIs were still produced in 1919-1920 in the Fokker factory in Amsterdam North, for example for the LVA (Dutch air force).
In 1929, a number of D.VIIs were licensed for the Swiss Air Force in Switzerland.
Initially, the D.VII was equipped with a 160 hp 6-cylinder water-cooled Mercedes D. IIIa in-line engine, later a 185 hp 6-cylinder BMW IIIa engine was used, which achieved a top speed of 185 km / h.
The BMW engine gave the D.VII an ascent speed of 9.5 meters. per second.
A later version of the D.VII used a 230 hp Armstrong Siddeley Puma.
The aircraft on which the BMW IIIa was tested was the “Versuchmachinen” 24, V.24.
The production planes with the BMW IIIa were designated as D.VII F, the F came from the surname of the designer of the BMW IIIa, Max Friz.
The armament consisted of two 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns.
The D.VII has also served in the Dutch armed forces.
In October, November 1918, 6 interned D.VIIs were employed by the LVA, the Dutch Army Aviation Department.
In 1920 Fokker built 22 copies for the LVA, which served until 1938.
20 of them served with the MLD, Naval Aviation Service from 1920 to 1937.
And in Indonesia 6 have flown at the KNIL, Royal Dutch East Indies Army.
There are still original copies in museums in Canada, England, Germany, France, USA and in the Dutch NMM, National Military Museum in Soesterberg.
Worldwide there are dozens of static and flying replicas of the D.VII.
Click on the photo to enlarge the photo
