Fokker DV-II

Yesterday's post featured the Sopwith
Camel, a plane used by all of the allied forces
of World War I.. Today I offer the plane
used by the Germans to battle the Camel.
This is a Fokker DV-II, designed and
built in the Netherlands, this plane used
both BMW and Mercedes engines in its
development. Climbing and turning was
a distinct advantage for the Fokker over
the Camel or the Spad, used by the allies.
Twin machine guns mounted on the
front cowling were synchronized to fire
through the propeller. A first for the
Germans and later copied by the allies.
More on the Fokker DV-II..
Late in 1917, Fokker built the experimental V.11 biplane, fitted with the standard Mercedes D.IIIa engine. In January 1918, Idflieg held a fighter competition at Adlershof. For the first time, frontline pilots would directly participate in the evaluation and selection of new fighters. Fokker submitted the V.11 along with several other prototypes. Manfred von Richthofen flew the V.11 and found it tricky, unpleasant, and directionally unstable in a dive. In response to these complaints, Fokker's chief designer and engineer, Reinhold Platz, lengthened the rear fuselage by one structural bay, and added a triangular fixed vertical fin in front of the rudder. Upon flying the modified V.11, Richthofen praised it as the best aircraft of the competition. It offered excellent performance from the outdated Mercedes engine, yet it was safe and easy to fly. Richthofen's recommendation virtually decided the competition, but he was not alone in recommending it. Fokker immediately received a provisional order for 400 production aircraft, which were designated D.VII by Idflieg.