The German Fokker D.VII is frequently
cited as one of the best fighter aircraft of the First World War. But,
its story of inception is what makes it a supremely interesting
subject. During the latter half of 1917, the Allies had regained air
superiority over the Western Front with the S.E. 5 and the Spad
fighters. To counter this, the German government invited aircraft
manufacturers to submit prototype single-seat fighter designs for
evaluation at a competition to be held at Adlershof airfield in Berlin
in January 1918. The aircraft would be demonstrated by the
manufacturers, and would be tested by front-line combat pilots. The
design with the best overall performance would be awarded a production
contract. Thirty-one airplanes from ten manufacturers entered the
competition and the Fokker DVII was the winner, earning an initial
contract for 400 units.
When the
Fokker D.VII entered squadron service in early May 1918 and appeared on
the Western Front, Allied pilots at first underestimated the new
fighter because it lacked the sleek, graceful lines of the German
Albatros fighters. But the plane quickly proved to be vastly superior
to existing fighters, despite the comparatively clumsy appearance of
the D.VII. One reason for this was the soon-to-be-famous ability of the
Fokker D.VII to seemingly "hang on its propeller" and fire into the
unprotected underside of Allied two-seater reconnaissance aircraft. The
Fokker D.VII's thick wing section endowed the airplane with good stall
characteristics. Positioning below and behind a two-seater, where the
enemy observer could not bring his guns to bear, a D.VII pilot could
safely put his airplane into a nose-high attitude, with full power, in
a nearly stalled condition. The capability of the D.VII to perform this
maneuver made it a highly feared opponent in combat.
Hangar
9Άs almost-ready-to-fly version of the Fokker D.VII is an accurate
60-size reproduction of GermanyΆs famed fighter. Following on our
success with the British-inspired Sopwith Camel, the Fokker is the
second WWI fighter in the Hangar 9 warbird line. Constructed of
laser-cut balsa, this model is sure to stand the test of time, just
like its full-scale cousin. And, its painted fiberglass parts and
accurate scale Lozenge camouflage covering on the bottom of the wings
and tail give it that authentic battle-bird look and appeal that make
this aircraft a sure hit with scale modelers. Even the most discerning
modeler will appreciate the exceptional level of detail—including the
scale wheels, scale pilot figure, dummy engine and molded guns. The
dummy engine is a 6 cylinder Mercedes engine with exhaust stack and
simulated rocker arms.
The Fokker
D.VII is designed to accommodate a variety of 2- or 4-stroke glow
engines, or electric power, and includes all the mounting hardware
needed. Making this aircraft ready for electric power is as easy as
mounting a motor on the included mount, charging and flying.
Features
- Scale pilot, dummy engine and guns included
- Covered with accurate German Lozenge camouflage
- Scale wheels included
- High-quality laser-cut balsa and plywood construction
- Fiberglass cowl simulated stamped metal fuselage sides
- Fly it the way you want it—glow or electric
Specifications
- Wing Span: 63.4 in (1610mm)
- Overall Length: 49.8 in (1265mm)
- Wing Area: 1168 sq in (75 sq dm)
- Flying Weight: 8.5 - 10 lb(3.9-4.5 kg) (glow 2 stroke, 4 stroke or Elec)
- Engine Size: .52 -.61 2-stroke glow engine, or .72 - .82 4-stroke glow engine
- Motor Size: Power 60 BL outrunner motor
- Radio: 4 channels minimum; 5 recommended
- Servos: 5 servos (4 for electric conversion)
- Trim Scheme Colors: Sky Blue (HANU875) Tru Red (HANU866) White (HANU870) Black (HANU874) Lozenge (HAN4695)
- CG (center of gravity): 3 5/8 - 4 in.
- Wing Loading: 16.8 - 19.8 oz/sq ft
- Prop Size: 11x6 - 13-6 (.52 -.61 2 stroke glow) 12x8 - 14x8 (.72 - .82 4 stroke) 16x8E (power 60 BL)
- Hardware Included: Yes
- Speed Control: 60 Amp
- Recommended Battery: Thunder Power 6S 22.2V 3850 to 5000 mAh li-Po