Fokker axle wings.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Bookmaker:
Jeff's thoughts on the clipped axle wing are not supported by photograph evidence of subsquent Fokker D.VII machines built by Fokker, Albatros and OAW. It was NOT done at time of manufacture.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[tcrean7828]

Originally Posted by Dan_San_Abbott

Bookmaker:
Jeff's thoughts on the clipped axle wing are not supported by photograph evidence of subsquent Fokker D.VII machines built by Fokker, Albatros and OAW. It was done at time of manufacture.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Mate,

Interesting, I thought that it was done by the airframe mechanics at the different Jasta's - thanks for the clearification.

cul

tcrean7828

tom

[Jeff Brooks]

Originally Posted by Dan_San_Abbott

Bookmaker:
Jeff's thoughts on the clipped axle wing are not supported by photograph evidence of subsquent Fokker D.VII machines built by Fokker, Albatros and OAW. It was done at time of manufacture.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Just to clarify, I did not say the modifications came from either the manufacturer or field mechanics ... I just SPECULATED that they were probably field modifications to deal the field conditions. I didn't think I needed photgraphic evidence to just knock around ideas? brainstorming.

Field modifications to production aircraft happen all the time, even today! They often start in the field and work their way back to the manufacturer.

Those muddy fields they were operating out of were probably dug up by several planes flying every day, distroyed the turf. If it ended up inside that fairing, it would only make sense to remove the offending piece to make their life easier.

I often hear folks say the ends were modified to change the shock cords without removing the tires. The job of removing the cords was not that difficult to do with the factory fairing ... I have done it. But, there isn't much room to reach deep inside the fairing with the axle and shock cord in place.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Jeff Brooks:
I left a very important word out, I just corrected it. You are correct these clipping modifications were made by the mechanics in the Jasta or at the AFP. It was not a standard practice you will only see a few clipped axle wings on the Fok.D.VII aircraft.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[gipsymoth236k]

MORE CLIPPED AXLE FAIRINGS

Here is an original photo of the O.A.W.-built D.VII "U.10" shortly after its "capture" by Sumner Sewall (a relative) of the 95th Aero Squadron. Note the "clipped" axle fairing on this D.VII. A good example of a field mod probably. -It is still this way today as displayed in the NASM in Washington, D.C.

Regards, Gary Sewall