Original Fokker D VII wheels

Have from a fairly reliable source that the Rhinebeck Spirit of St. Louis has been fitted and will be flown with original DVII wheels, as these are the closest they could find to the 32"x4" used on Lindbergh's famous mount.
BTW- we are having new wheels built in the NY state area, but will be using 30x 5 tires, due to availability limitations.
Charlie

[David_Layton]

The NASM DVII has those stupid wooden (look how desperate those Germans were) wheels on their DVII.

I think you ought be in a position to make a trade.

[joegertler]

I have one set of the Bendix 30 x 5 disc wheels and no use for them, now. *They were temporary wheels for out 1928 Birdwing Imperial until we found the right size..Mine are the kind without cutout for brakes on one side. I sent about 16/18 of the WWI German wire wheels back to Berlin. I don't remember the D.VII size. Something like 700 or 750 x 100? But Dave Watts (and I'd guess, Achim) must have the drwgs for them..

[Dan_San_Abbott]

visaliaaviation:
The Fok.D.VII wheel use a 760mm x 100mm tire, The rim was 72mm wide 570 mm in diameter x 26 mm deep with rolled flanges 12 mm deep x 11mmwide on each side. There were 20 spokes, 4mm dia., on each side arranged tangentially to the hub flanges, 95.5 mm in dia. The hub was 160 mm long, the out side dia. was 60.5, inner dia 57.5mm and bushed with 2 bronze bushings with an inside dia. of 55.5 mm x 50mm long.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Dan-san,

Thanks for the data. Fokker wheel would be close to 30 x 5, according to my rough calcs. Joe's wheels, while rather neat, would not work for us. Anyone with 30 x5 wheels (wire spokes and brakeless) for sale ? We would be glad to hear from you!

Also, forgot to mention that our Spirit is currently being rolled around on genuine "BF Woodrich Silvertons" 29.5 x 4.5 . These were laminated from six 3/4 thk disks of baltic birch (damn near a/c grade!)provided by a local wire roll manufacturer . We rough profiled them with a skil saw. Final shape "turned" on an axil,using belt sander to impart spin and wood rasps . Painted up they look most convincing. Weigh only about 80 lbs. each!

[Dan_San_Abbott]

visaliaaviation:
* *The German 810 mm x 125 mm tire was used on the wheel as the 760mm x 100mm tire. *the 810 x125 would be about the same as 32" x 5" wheel. These were primarily used on the two-seaters.
* * * * * * * * * * * blue skies,
* * * * * * * * * * * * *Dan-San