Fuel cock Fokker E.III vs. E.IV

[rammjaeger]

Hi folks,

I wonder if the position and way of working of fuel cock and fuel control lever in the Fokker E.IV cockpit was different to the forerunner E.III´s cockpit or earlier models?

Are there any pictures, drawings or descriptions existing?

TIA.

Hannes

[Alkali Jones]

Hey rammjaeger,

I would like to know that too. Good question.

Dan S

[josef scott]

Hallo Hannes & Dan,

In all of the research I've done for the forthcoming Windsock Datafile specials on the Eindeckers, I've not yet found substantial new information on the E.IV's cockpit. Still looking...The old E.IV mini-datafile has the best photos available, but do not address the fuel arrangement at all.

Does your query stem from the incident when Immelmann "borrowed" Boelcke's E.IV prototype and had to land soon after due to a) running out of fuel, or b) not knowing how to switch tanks?

What I do know about the Eindeckers' fuel systems is that there does not appear to be a substantial difference between them. Gravity fuel & oil in the front tank, larger fuel reserve behind the pilot. What was new with the E.IV was a wind-driven airpump to move the fuel from the rear tank to the front. Perhaps Immelmann did not know it had to be turned on, or how to turn it on?

[rammjaeger]

Indeed Josef, this incident is the main reason (but not the only reason) for my question. Thank you very much.
Your explanation sounds reasonable. Hope some more pictures or even instruction notes come up one day. I am waiting for your book as well.

[Alkali Jones]

Hey josef scott,

Thanks for the info. My interest is that I'm fascinated by the early Eindeckers. Don't know why. Anything at all on the EI, EII, EIII, and EIV will do.

When is your Windsock Datafile Special coming out?

Dan S

[Alkali Jones]

Hey josef scott,

Sorry about the double post. I have gone through all the E IV photos I have, (admittedly not that many, but all) and I can only find a wind driven pump on about a third of the pictures that show the starboard forward landing "V".

Was this a late developement? Do we know that Beolcke's borrowed E IV had such a pump? I have read that were only about 50 E IV's made. What percentage had this pump?

And when is that Datafile Special coming out?

Dan S

[franzkait]

look at the Oberursel drawings , this drawings show the fuel system .

[josef scott]

Hallo all,

There indeed are photos of E.IV's which clearly do not have the pump present. Of the 150 or so images I've had available to me, I'd guess between 5% and 10% do not.

There are a couple of things to consider though. Both of the prototypes, Parschau's 122/15 and Boelcke's 123/15, have pictures both with and without the pump (123/15, all but one with pump). Good photos of a couple of E.IV's without the pump clearly show an attachment tube hanging down just aft of the front starboard pylon leg. So, although it's not provable that every E.IV had the device (my opinion is that it was standard), it is certain that it was occasionally removed.

Presuming that the familiar interior photo of 122/15 is indicative of all examples of the type, the hand pump was also retained inside the cockpit as an alternative method to move the fuel forward. That same photo reveals the switches attached to the frame on the starboard side of the cockpit, rather than being mounted on a piece of plywood to the right of the ammunition box. The oil pulsometers for the two oil pumps were mounted on the same post that served as a pivot for the rudder bar.

The Datafiles are presently being printed, so, hopefully, should be available some time in July.

[josef scott]

Hallo franzkait!

I am not familiar with any drawings of the Oberursel U.III which illustrate the fuel arrangement. I would be extremely curious to see them! Where might one find such?

[franzkait]

I do not know who has this Oberursel information . I have it somewhere
in my collection .