Fokker E.V / DVIII | 18" Balsa Kit

FOKKER E.V /DVIII - THE FLYING RAZOR

Dubbed the “Flying Razor� by Entente pilots, due to the single flat parasol wing resembling a razor blade, the Fokker E.V. was the last Fokker designed aircraft to enter service with the German Army Air force the Luftstreitkräfte during World War 1.

Most aircraft at that time were biplanes or triplanes with relatively thin section wings, as this offered low weight, structural simplicity, strength and low wing loading. However, the struts, bracing wires and aerodynamic interference between the two wings added significant drag. These factors, alongside the obvious cost of another set or two of wings, begged for a more effective solution. Following Fokker’s brief work alongside Hugo Junkers, Reinhold Platz designed an innovative thick section cantilevered wing for the new Fokker type. When tested it fared well both aerodynamically and structurally.

The first aircraft were delivered in late July 1918, but by mid-August two pilots had died after wing failures. All aircraft of the type were grounded and an investigation started. It was alleged that the wings had been poorly constructed at Fokker’s subcontractor who produced them for the production versions. However, Fokker contended that during the aircraft’s acceptance tests the authorities - who were cautious of the innovative design - had insisted on adding another reward spar. This had the effect of actually weakening the wing by causing it to twist during flight due to the aerodynamic loads. It is quite likely that the truth was possibly somewhere between, as when properly built to the original design the wings were proven sound.

By this time the aircraft had developed a poor reputation, so it was re-introduced and re-named the DVIII in an attempt to distance it from the E.V. However this proved to be too late, and the aircraft did not score another German kill before the armistice some two months later.

Following the terms of the armistice most aircraft, either in service or partially built, were scrapped, but the Polish air force obtained a number and proved their credentials in the Polish - Soviet war. Such was the pace of aircraft development in the early 1920’s they were already obsolete, and they ended their days as training aircraft.

YOUR KIT

This kit is designed for you to build a traditionally constructed, rubber powered, free flight model of a Fokker E.V flown from Lawica Airfield between 1921 to 1926 as a trainer. This is a simple but striking scheme, but you can decide to do your own favourite or more complicated scheme if you wish - as there are many schemes to choose from.

Construction of the model from this kit uses the traditional method of "stick and tissue", that consists of a built up balsa wood skeleton (framework), covered with a tissue skin. The balsa frameworks are built over a plan that is printed at the exact scale of the model, which is in essence a real engineering drawing. Power is provided by rubber strip motor that is wound up before flight.

Free flight means just that - once the model is launched, it is on its own. It must follow a predetermined flight path established when the model is initially adjusted for flight or "trimmed". This type of traditional building technique and flying requires a degree of patience and skill, but is extremely rewarding. Typically for a small model and in the spirit of the traditional kits, profiles are simplified and adjusted from the original and a relatively large propeller is used. This is done so that the model is light and stable enough to fly on its own, is simple in construction and can work with the rubber motor. These adjustments have been done with care and sensitivity so that the shape and spirit of the original aircraft is preserved as much as possible. Also in the spirit of the traditional kits, additional items required to build the model are things that can be found in the kitchen drawer or are easily available on the high street.