DR-1 (Sands): Builders Group

[Francois7]

Hi again my friends,

I did my third flight to day, and this times I did not do any mistake !

As always the take off was very easy, and the flight was even more pleasant as I did get more used to the plane's reactions and did feel much better the speed that was needed for climbing , turning, landing or what ever. (remember, no speedo !)

Then the real thing was coming, the only thing that does not accept any mistake ... the landing.

But this times I did control my reaction and after the wheels did touch the ground I did not forget to push the stick and keep the tail up...until it was not possible anymore, the stick being completely forwards !

Then when the skid touch the ground, stick fully back !

So during that landing , the rudder was up and kept kept his full power...and it was not complicate to keep the Fokker going straight. Of course you you are busy with your feet but it's not really difficult... but you must do it with lot of attention keeping in your mind that if you let it go too much out of the line then you probably will not recover it....

After the tail skid is in the grass, then you are very slow and now its times for the brakes to get into action to replace the rudder which is now completely ineffective, again to keep your Fokker in line....
With no or very little side wind in fact it's much easier than what I thought having heard so many thing about landing in a Fokker DR1...

So it's exactly like what I did read some times ago about people telling their experiences with the Fokker DR1...
"Lot of pleasure after the first frightening hours" and "if there is some side wind, keep it in the hangar..."

I did follow there advice and if I did fly only three times in 5 days, it's because I did chose only days and hours when the wind was (or almost) non existent ...
In those condition and following, like I did, the advice of the experienced Fokker DR1 's pilots, you should not have any problems for your first flight.

I wish you all the best !

Francois

[flybill7]

Francois, your Triplane looks magnificent. Congratulations!

[philcie]

hi every one, today i visit the prop shop, they building the replica of an axial prop for me with walnut and birch
should be finish next week





I'm still looking for some info on the Gnome speed selector the bakelite parts, if any of you have some infos,
i already ask Le Bourget and IWM museum with out answers (don't have any ...)


on the engine i would like to see the other side of the bakelite to repo

Philippe

[Francois7]

Hello Philippe,
Try and contact the "Memorial Flight ", they did built a Fokker DR1 just like the original ! and their plane are where I'm based...

Mmorial Flight Association

All Fokker's addict should look at this site...
... the others also !...

Francois

[philcie]

Bonjour, FRANCOIS
ou es tu basé, a Dugny ou a Cerny ?
I hope to meet you soon, last monday i was in Cerny with Baptiste, looking for some parts to run the gnome, the "frein filtre"

have fun with the DR1, will you fly it during the airshow????

Philippe



ps: le mail de Mémorial ne marche pas (free.fr)

[Makhpiyaluta]

Here is the other side Philippe.



Willem

[Francois7]

Bonjour Philippe,
I'm based in the same hangar than the planes from Memorial Flight !
I will fly during the Air Show... if nothing is broken na !
Will I see you there ?
I have also a Pitts in the other hangar behind the restaurant.
Good luke with your engine, the funny thing is that I did buy from the same person a pair of "Spandau"... The World is small !
Have fun,
Francois

[philcie]

thank you willem,

it will help me to rebuilt it, i hope......

Francois I should be in CHATEAUROUX in july with the Stearman and the Stampe,
hope to cover the wings during May and June

[Makhpiyaluta]

Once you understand how it works it's sooo simple.

Willem

[Makhpiyaluta]

Here's a good example of the selector being used on a Gnome 160.
Kermit Weeks doing his performance at Fantasy of Flight.

Fokker D VIII (in USA) - YouTube

Willem