Review of Fokker Dr. I The Aces Aircraft
Authors: Tomasz J. Kowalski & Mark Rys
Legends of Aviation in 3D No.99001
Kagero Publications
ISBN: 978-83-64596-29-2
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $39.95
Kagero Publications
ISBN: 978-83-64596-29-2
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $39.95
HISTORY:
Dr.I reproduction at Airpower 11 airshow
Role
Fighter
Manufacturer
Fokker-Flugzeugwerke
Designer
Reinhold Platz
First flight
5 July 1917
Primary user
Luftstreitkräfte
Number built
320
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker (triplane) was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918. It became renowned as the aircraft in which Manfred von Richthofen gained his last 19 victories, and in which he was killed on 21 April 1918.
In February 1917, the Sopwith Triplane began to appear over the Western Front.[1] Despite its single Vickers machine gun armament, the Sopwith swiftly proved itself superior to the more heavily armed Albatros fighters then in use by the Luftstreitkräfte.
Fokker-Flugzeugwerke responded by converting an unfinished biplane prototype into the V.4, a small, rotary-powered triplane with a steel tube fuselage and thick cantilever wings, first developed during Fokker's government-mandated collaboration with Hugo Junkers. Initial tests revealed that the V.4 had unacceptably high control forces resulting from the use of unbalanced ailerons and elevators.
Instead of submitting the V.4 for a type test, Fokker produced a revised prototype designated V.5. The most notable changes were the introduction of horn-balanced ailerons and elevators, as well as longer-span wings.
The V.5 also featured interplane struts, which were not necessary from a structural standpoint, but which minimized wing flexing.[6] On 14 July 1917, Idflieg issued an order for 20 pre-production aircraft. The V.5 prototype, serial 101/17, was tested to destruction at Adlershof on 11 August 1917.
Kagero is a book publisher based in Lublin, Poland.
This book is printed in English. It is hard bound with 140 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
It includes a pair of cardboard glasses with one red and one blue lens to wear to be able to see the illustrations in 3D.
CHAPTERS
How the Legend Was Born
Dreideckers in Combat
Bibliography
Appendices
Tables
Fokker Dr.I in 3D
3D Anaglyphs
There are 46 black and white wartime photos in the book.
There are 31 color paintings of the Dr. I with its fabric on in 3D.
There are 40 color paintings of the Dr. I with its fabric removed in 3D. Most of these are walk around type showing various parts of its structure.
There are 37 color paintings of the Dr. I’s machine guns in 3D.
There are 6 color paintings of the Dr. I’s cockpit in 3D. 4 color paintings of the cockpit are walk around cut aways.
There are 4 color paintings of the landing gear in 3D.
There are 34 color paintings of various engines used on the Dr. I in 3D. Most are walk around types showing every inch of their anatomy.
There are 5 color paintings of the Dr. I’ s fuel tank in 3D including it’s operation lever.
There are 5 color paintings of the Dr. I’s ammo bins in 3D.
There are 5 color paintings of the Dr. I’s instruments in 3D.
There are 3 color paintings of the Dr. I’s control stick in 3D.
There are 7 color paintings of 3 types of propellers used on the Dr. I in 3D.
There are 10 color paintings of the Dr. I’s wings with fabric removed in 3D.
There are 2 color paintings of tail and wing tip variations used on the Dr. I in 3D.
In the last pages of the book is a page full of cover arts of other WWI aircraft books that Kagero publishes.
There are 5 data charts.
There are 6 color profiles.
This has got to be THE BOOK about the Dr. I. It is just loaded with information about the aircraft and will be of great value to modelers and of high interest to aviation historians and enthusiasts.
Very highly recommended.
I want to thank the folks at Kagero and at Casemate for this review sample. Casemate sent me this book double-packaged in 2 padded envelopes.
Casemate is the N. American distributor of Kagero books and the full list of Kagero’s offerings can be found on Casemate’s web site.