DETAILS

    The general construction of the machine followed closely on the pattern established by earlier aircraft from the Fokker factory and featured an extensive use of welded steel tubes. The fuselage was of simple rectangular structure and was entirely built of welded tubes, strength being given by pressing wires fastened to quadrants in corners of the frame. The engine, normally Oberurser rotary, on some aircraft are captured Le Rhone, and on later machines a Goebel, was of comparatively large diameter. It was three quarters covered by a cowling which in turn was faired back in to the sides of the rectangular sectioned fuselage by a pair of semi circular sectioned plywood fairings, which tapered uniformly from full fuselage depth. At the rear of the cowling to zero at a point just aft of the cockpit. Similar plywood section was used as a fairing behind the cockpit. The fuselage decking in front of the cockpit comprised three aluminum panels.

   The lower wing was clamed into a slot bellow the fuselage. The middle wing was clamped into sockets on either side of the upper fuselage, the wing being carried on struts above the fuselage. The wings were of the same fundamental chord and section but varied in span with the upper being largest and the lower smallest. The upper wings carried balanced ailerons and the center wing had semi circular cut out at it’s root to enhance the pilots downwards and forwards visibility. The lower wing was of uniform chord thought out  it’s length. Structure of the wings was based on closely positioned pair of main spars which by being joined top and bottom with a span wise plywood strip became very substantial box section. The leding edge of the wing was covered with plywood capping which was angled back between the ribs to the front of the main spar to which it was pinned. Tips of the wings were given rounded appearance by the use of wing rib turned on its side. Trailing edge was a tensioned steel wire which paste through metal guides at the extremity of the ribs. The ailerons were of simple tubular construction and were operated by controlled wires which paste into the wing and run internally on a pulley system to the center section were they emerged to pass trough the fuselage decking to their connections on the control column. Access to these pulleys and the wires was by means of four panels in the undersurface of the wing.

    The top wing was supported at the center by a pair of inverted vee struts made in welded steel tube. The lower ends being clamped to the top fuselage longeron and the upper ends clamped to the main spar. The assembly was rigid with tensioned steel wires.

    The tail surfaces were of simple tubular construction and of narrow thickness. There was no vertical fin and the familiar Fokker “comma” shaped rudder was hinged from the rear fuselage member. The tailplane was clamped down to the fuselage top frame and carried the balanced elevator.

    The undercarriage was built up from steel tube welded to form vee shape. The axle had a large streamlined fairing which was produced extra lift.

    Armament consisted of two Spandau machine guns, synchronized to fire through propeller arc. 

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All photos courtesy Cross&Cockade via Paul S. Leaman

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