Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Monday, February 14, 2022

Tony Fokker's Three Masterpieces — A Roads Classic




Anton Herman Gerard Fokker (1890–1939) is the most renowned aircraft designer of the Great War.  Had designed his first airplane at age 20, and by 1912 he opened a small aircraft factory near Berlin. At the outbreak of war, he offered his designs to both sides, but the Allies all declined him.  Germany didn't. Fokker took German citizenship and became their leading designer and manufacturer.

His company was controlled by the German military in the war, but he remained in charge. His engineers designed the first interrupter gear, allowing machine guns to fire straight ahead through the propeller. His works turned out three of the most remarkable airplanes of the war: the E.1(through 4) "Eindecker," the Dr.1 Triplane, and the D.VII, recognized as the outstanding fighter plane of the Great War.



E.1 "Eindecker"



Dr.1 Triplane



D.VII


Sources:  Who's Who of WWI, Photos from USAF National Museum, Phil Makanna, and Tony Langley

3 comments:

  1. "The most renowned"? Herbert Smith? Henry Folland? DH? Louis Becherou? True, the DVII was excellent, but the Eindeckers were mediocre without the synchronised gun. And Fokker had a bit of help from one Reinhold Platz.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I heard that Ford's tri motor was usurped from Fokker or was it vica versa?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Please note the focus was on Fokker, not "all".

    Those of us who study WW I aviation realize there were other designers, but to the casual observer, Fokker is probably the best-known. Was there an "Albatros Scourge", or a "Pfalz Scourge", or a "Roland Scourge"?

    Steve Miller

    ReplyDelete