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First appearing entering combat in May 1918, the Fokker D. VII quickly showed its superior performance over Allied fighters. With its high rate of climb, higher ceiling and excellent handling characteristics, German pilots scored a remarkable 565 victories over Allied aircraft during the month of August alone.
Designed by Reinhold Platz, the prototype of the D. VII flew in a competition against other new fighter aircraft in early 1918. After Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the famous Red Baron, flew the prototype and enthusiastically recommended it, the D. VII was chosen for production. To achieve higher production rates, Fokker, the Albatross company and the Allgemeine Elektrizitats Gesellschaft (AEG) all built the D. VII. By war's end in November 1918, these three companies had built more than 1,700 aircraft.
Variants
V 11 : Prototype
V 21 : Prototype with tapered wings
V 22 : Prototype with four-bladed propeller
V 24 : Prototype with 179 kW (240 hp) Benz Bz.IV ü engine
V 31 : One D.VII aircraft fitted with a hook to tow the V 30 glider
V 34 : D.VII development with 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine
V 35 : Two-seat development with 138 kW (185 hp) BMW III a engine and undercarriage fuel tank
V 36 : D.VII development with 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine and undercarriage fuel tank
V 38 : Prototype Fokker C.I
Armament: Two 7.92 Spandau machine guns
Engine: Mercedes 160 hp or BMW 185 hp
Maximum speed: 120 mph (Mercedes engine); 124 mph (BMW engine)
Ceiling: 18,000 ft. (Mercedes engine); 21,000 ft. (BMW engine)
Span: 29 ft. 3.5 in.
Length: 22 ft. 11.5 in.
Height: 9 ft. 2.5 in.
Weight: 1,540 lbs. empty; 1,939 lbs. loaded
wingsovereurope.com
nationalmuseum.af.mil
wingnutwings.com
Designed by Reinhold Platz, the prototype of the D. VII flew in a competition against other new fighter aircraft in early 1918. After Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the famous Red Baron, flew the prototype and enthusiastically recommended it, the D. VII was chosen for production. To achieve higher production rates, Fokker, the Albatross company and the Allgemeine Elektrizitats Gesellschaft (AEG) all built the D. VII. By war's end in November 1918, these three companies had built more than 1,700 aircraft.
Variants
V 11 : Prototype
V 21 : Prototype with tapered wings
V 22 : Prototype with four-bladed propeller
V 24 : Prototype with 179 kW (240 hp) Benz Bz.IV ü engine
V 31 : One D.VII aircraft fitted with a hook to tow the V 30 glider
V 34 : D.VII development with 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine
V 35 : Two-seat development with 138 kW (185 hp) BMW III a engine and undercarriage fuel tank
V 36 : D.VII development with 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine and undercarriage fuel tank
V 38 : Prototype Fokker C.I
Armament: Two 7.92 Spandau machine guns
Engine: Mercedes 160 hp or BMW 185 hp
Maximum speed: 120 mph (Mercedes engine); 124 mph (BMW engine)
Ceiling: 18,000 ft. (Mercedes engine); 21,000 ft. (BMW engine)
Span: 29 ft. 3.5 in.
Length: 22 ft. 11.5 in.
Height: 9 ft. 2.5 in.
Weight: 1,540 lbs. empty; 1,939 lbs. loaded
wingsovereurope.com
nationalmuseum.af.mil
wingnutwings.com
