Fokker D Vii

* Contains more than 160 historic photos and 175 of the highest quality 3D renders The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft. The Armistice ending the war specifically required Germany to surrender all D.VIIs to the Allies at the conclusion of hostilities. Surviving aircraft saw continued widespread service with many other countries in the years after World War I. This is the second publication from the "Legends of Aviation in 3D" series. The Fokker D.VII was one of the most successful feats of engineering of World War I. Designed by Reinhold Platz and wheeled out in the summer of 1918, the D. VII proved itself to be an indispensable part of the German fight. This fantastic new title from Kagero contains more than 160 historic photos and 175 of the highest quality 3D renders that illustrate every detail of the plane. The engine, cockpit and much more is shown from many different angles and views which gives you a chance to explore the plane in a way you have never imagined!

Designed in a great rush at the end of 1917 just in time to take part in the German standard fighter competition held in January/February 1918, the D VII easily walked away with first prize. As Germanys premier fighter unit, von Richthofens JG I (led by Hermann Göring in the wake of the 'Red Baron's' recent death) received the first examples of the D VII to reach the frontline in late April. Built to oppose the new generation of French SPAD XIIIs and British SE 5as and Camel fighters, the D VII was arguably the best all-round fighting scout of the Great War.

Having established its SPAD VII as the most effective French fighter of 1916, the Societé Pour l'Aviation at ses Dérivés strove to improve the model with a 220hp Hispano Suiza 8B engine and two machine guns. Despite initial teething troubles with the new engine, by mid-1918 the SPAD XIII had taken its place as the principal fighter of both France and the US. Meanwhile, the German quest for a successor for their structurally flawed Albatros D V finally bore fruit with the Fokker D VII. Entering combat in May 1918, this plane earned a reputation as the most formidable fighter of the war, yet the SPAD XIII's greater speed, especially in a dive, and its outstanding durability, proved a fearsome rival. This is the gripping story of two of the best fighters produced in World War I - the SPAD XIII and the Fokker D VII - as they dueled in the skies above the trenches in the closing months of the war. Never before published artwork, including fascinating cockpit illustrations, reveal several dramatic clashes between the two foes while diary entries and first-hand accounts from the pilots bring this classic World War I duel to life with intimate detail.

The Fokker D.VII is widely regarded as the best German aircraft of the war. Its development was championed by Manfred von Richthofen. In January 1918, Richthofen tested the D.VII in the trials at Adlershof but never had an opportunity to fly it in combat. He was killed just days before it entered service. When introduced, the D.VII was not without problems. On occasion its wing ribs would fracture in a dive or high temperatures would cause the gas tank to explode. Even so, the D.VII proved to be durable and easy to fly. As noted by one authority, it had "an apparent ability to to make a good pilot out of mediocre material.." When equipped with the BMW engine, the D.VII could out climb any Allied opponent it encountered in combat. Highly manoeuvrable at all speeds and altitudes, it proved to be more than a match for any of the British or French fighter planes of 1918.

World War I was the time of dynamic development of aviation. Aircraft created during that period and pilots who fought in them, became legends that have fascinated generations of pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Legends of Aviation in 3D is a publishing series with a goal to present legendary aircraft from the pioneer era of military aviation in an innovative way. Thanks to color 3D renderings we can almost touch the Fokker D.VII, see its details, get to know its meticulous airframe structure and understand the phenomenon of this legendary aircraft. With the virtual Fokker D.VII, Marek Ryś inspires us to explore the history of the aircraft afresh. The modern 3D images impressively harmonize with the old photographs. Tomasz Kowalski tells us the story of pilots flying the new Fokker biplanes and takes us to the dark and romantic period of the Great War when knights of the sky were born and killed. We are convinced that Tomasz Kowalski and Marek Ryś's publication is a valuable addition to literature concerning the legendary Fokker D.VII and simultaneously a successful and exceptional attempt to present the earliest history of aviation in an original way. We have made all efforts to make the layout and quality of the series fulfill the needs of our readers.

Beretter om Fokker's flyproduktion og flytyper under 1. verdenskrig og mellemkrigsårene