Fokker DR1 stats

I ran across a some stats in a book called Great Battles of WWI by Anthony Livesey. It quotes the Dr1's speed at 122mph at 8000ft!? I have also seen quotes of 155mph at sea level and 103 at 13123. The question is what are the real stats?? Anyone have a breakdown of speed at different altitudes for the Dr1 and any of the other major players like SE's, Camel's etc.

Thanks,

Chuck

[PeterL]

Definitely out of order. German figures for the type converted to mph come out at 105. Allied tests on a captured Dr1 quote 95mph!! How any Dr1 pilot managed to engage an unwilling oponent in combat is probably another question for another thread.

Peter L

Chuck,
Wow! I wish the triplane would perform like that. But unfortunately (for me) those figures are pure hogwash!
Here is what you are looking for:
Loaded 1290 lbs / 110 hp LeRhone
Max speed at 13120' = 102.5 mph

Loaded 1378 lbs / 145 hp Oberursel
Max speed @ unspecified alt = 115 mph

Loaded 1400 lbs / 160 hp Goe III
Max speed @ unspecified alt = 118 mph

Loaded 1512 lbs / 160 hp Sh.3
Max speed @ unspecified alt = 120 mph

Keep in mind that all of the above specs, with the exception of the LeRhone powered model were for experimental versions of the Fokker Dr1 triplane.

Hope that helps!

C.R.Grube

Where did this information come from?

According to Alex Imrie's The Fokker Triplane,
Arms and Armor, 1992, pgs 116-117 under Technical Specifications, speed at level flight at
4000 meters altitude was 165km/hr which figures to 102.3mph/hr at @ 13,000 ft. I've read that it was much slower than it's contemporaries
but made up for it with it's superior maneuverability.

The book also suggests that this was a field test of 141/17 and it's performance would doubtless
suffer in service.

Hope this helps.

VBR,

Dennis
FokkDR1

Chuck,
The info I quoted came from Profile publications # 55 "The Fokker Dr.1"
This info also closely follows performance specs on my triplane construction plans.

C.Grube

Chuck,
Almost forgot to answer your question you posted on another thread; whats the best climb attitude for the Dr1?
My sources (Dr1 pilots, not computer jocks) tell me that takeoff is around 40 mph, with climbout at 60-70 mph. This should put you slightly nose high, however, I'm told that just like most biplanes, the climbout seems almost flat.
The first figure should give you best angle of climb, and the second figure should give you best rate. Try it and see if your performance specs perk up.
Please keep in mind. You are flying a computer flight simulation that is geared for the average folk. Not real pilots.If that were the case Dynamix probably wouldn't be able to sell many of these types of programs due to the high degree of difficulty involved in simply flying these machines, let alone fighting in one.
If you want to see if your simulation is accurate, check to see if the computer Dr1 does any of the following quirks the real a/c suffers from;

*Rudder reversal, and rudder stall.
*Loss of rudder control on roll out (3 point landing)
*Non-conventional spin recovery required.
*Totally unstable in all axis of flight.
*Ailerons stiffness, Rudder no feel, elevator super sensitive.
*Tendency to nose over, ground loop, and wallow on landing roll out.

FYI
C.R.Grube

[Darryl]

Hi guys,
all of my "reliable" sources agree with what has been said so far.

Now for a quick question which I couldn't get answered out at the club:
What causes control reversal?(WW2 aircraft suffered from aileron reversal at high speed)In the DR1 is this also caused by speed and why?

thanks

Darryl

[rudder]

Fred Murrin's Dr1 Replica with LeRhone rotary engine cruises about 80-83 mph about the same speed as my 7/8s scale Nieuport 16B with a 50hp engine. Watching him in mock dogfight with Fred Jungclaus and his SE5a replica was a sight to see when Jungclaus with his faster SE5a manuvered in behind Murrin and the DR1 and just when you thought the SE5a had him ,Murrin kicks the rudder bar and does a slip turn (flat turn no banking) and slides right around to the SE5s rear. BEAUTIFUL!
HAPPY NIEU YEAR,
Lt. Dwight Rudder, RFC

Can you define exactly what you mean be the rudder reveral etc.

Thanks,

Chuck