Fokker Axle Wings - Part 2

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Gary:
Looking at the photograph, the leading edge odge of the axle wing appears to be even with the edge of wheel rim. If that is the case, the rim outer diameter for the 710 x85 tire is 554mm in diameter/2 =277mm. with a chord of 670, (I thought it was 700mm) the axle center-line = 41.3% of chord.
with a 700 chord, the axle is at 39.5% of chord.
At some point in 1918, Idflieg required the ruder cable to be doubles as were the aileron and elevator cables had been. If you examined German aircraft ailerons you will find they they are independant of each other. If one aileron cable is severed on one side it will not affect the opposite aileron.
In my study I found the rudder cables were duplicated beginning approximately with Fok.D.VII, serial number D.7604/18.
The other major change was adding the firewall with serial number
D.5050/18, at which time, the rear side panel was added.
Merry Christmas,
Dan-San

[Taz]

Gary- Your photo is of Dr.I 160/17, WN 1872 just after delivery to Jasta 14. Here is an image of F.I 102/17 which is a mirror image of the Jasta 14 image except, regretably, not as good a photo. If 160/17 had the short axle, when do you think the change occurred? 160/17 was accepted on 30 November and shipped on 24 December with new wings.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Fokker F. I 102 17 HiRes-2 8 bit Axle Wing Detail.jpg

[Taz]

Dan-San- Thanks for the info. That would be starting with the fourth Fokker D.VII production batch, 7604/18-7805/18.

Taz
Terry Phillips

[Taz]

Here is another photo of the axle wing of F.I 102/17 taken at the same time only with the shadows a little better.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Fokker F. I 102 17 HiRes-1 8 bit Axle Wing Detail.jpg

[gipsymoth236k]

Dan-San - The leading edge of the 800mm axle wing is slightly aft of the wheel rim (not the tire) a distance of 18mm, and therefore not exactly even with it. Yes, the Dr.I tires are indeed 710 x 85, as are the E.V/D.VIII tires. I have the Fokker factory drawings and documents confirming these details.

Taz - Dr.I 160/17 is an early Dr.I, and therefore has the 800mm axle wing. Attached here in this first photo is another good example of a 800mm axle wing, this one from the Voss 103/17 F.I Triplane. The second photo is of Dr.I 528/17 with the later 670mm axle wing, which only seem to appear in the 500/17 series numbered Dr.Is.

Regards, Gary Sewall

[gipsymoth236k]

Here is more comparison between early Dr.I 800mm vs later 670mm axle wings:

The first photo is of Dr.I 163/17 with its 800mm axle wing, vs the second photo of 525/17 with its 670mm axle wing.

The third photo is of F.I 103/17 with its 800mm axle wing, vs the fourth photo of 581/17 with its 670mm axle wing.

Again, it seems that the later 670mm axle wing is found only in the 500/17 series of Dr.Is.

Regards, Gary Sewall

[Taz]

Gary- Thanks. The Voss photo is mine, by the way.

Here is a photo of Dr.I 581/17, WN 2251.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Dr.I 581 17 WN 2251 Js 18 August Raben in French Hangar SSW Fuselage in Rear Axle Wing.jpg

[gipsymoth236k]

Thanks Taz for the new Dr.I 581/17 photo! I sure would love a high-res version of that photo to confirm the interplane strut fitting details. Any help?

garysewal@aol.com

Here's your later 670mm cord axle wing relative to an earlier 800mm version.

Regards, Gary Sewall

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Gary:
Where didyou get the 670mm chord for the axle wing? i am not being argumentive, just curious.
Merry Christmas,
Dan-San

[Taz]

Gary- Will send it to you when I get back from LA on Thursday.

Taz
Terry Phillips