The Fokker M.7 was a German observation aircraft of World War I, used by the armed forces of both Germany and Austro-Hungary.
Design and development
Twenty aircraft, powered by 60 kW (80 hp) Oberursel U.0 rotary engines, were built, some of which were used by Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) shore stations.[1] It was a single-bay sesquiplane (biplane) of conventional configuration, with slightly staggered wings using wing warping for roll control, tandem open cockpits and Fokker's distinctive comma-shaped rudder.
The W.4 was a floatplane version of the M.7.
Operational history
The aircraft was operated by the Austro-Hungarian forces under the designation Type B.I, following the German Empire's lettered prefixes from the Idflieg aircraft designation system. Serials assigned were 03.01,03.02 and 03.04-03.12 with 03.25-03.28 being assigned to subsequently repaired/rebuilt aircraft.
Variants
- M.7 : Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft version.
- W.4 : Two-seat reconnaissance floatplane version.
Operators
Specifications (M.7)
Data from Data from Das Virtuelle Luftfahrtmuseum[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: two, pilot and observer
- Length: 7.49 m (24 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 9.94 m (32 ft 7 in)
- Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 27.6 m2 (297 sq ft)
- Powerplant: 1 × Oberursel U.0 , 60 kW (80 hp)
Performance
See also
Notes
- ^ Gray 1970 p. 339.
- ^ Das Virtuelle Luftfahrtmuseum Archived 2002-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fokker B.I.
- Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam & Company Ltd. p. 339. ISBN 0-370-00103-6.
- Herris, Jack (2020). Fokker Aircraft of WWI: Volume 1: Spinne–M.10 & Watercraft: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 51. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-953201-05-8.
- Leaman, Paul (2001). Fokker Aircraft of World War One. Marlborough, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-353-8.
