Fokker D. VIII (D-8)
Model Airplane News Cover Art for March, 1963
by Jo Kotula
Click to Enlarge

The Fokker D. VIII (aka "E.V.") was a German parasol-monoplane fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. It was initially designated "E.V." It entered service with the Luftstreitkräfte (German Air Force, literally "Airborne Force") in the last months of World War I. After several fatal accidents due to wing failures, the aircraft was modified and redesignated Fokker D.VIII. Dubbed the "Flying Razor" by Allied pilots, tbe D.VIII had the distinction of scoring the last aerial victory of the war.

  

Fokker D. VIII
Click to Enlarge

In early 1918, Fokker produced several rotary-powered monoplane prototypes. Of these, Fokker submitted the V.26 and V.28, small parasol-winged monoplanes with his usual steel-tube fuselages. Although they were equipped with relatively small engines,low drag and light weight meant that the planes were quite fast. The Fokker designs were only barely beaten by the Siemens-Schuckert D.III with a large and complex engine. The V.26 was ordered into production as the Fokker E.V. Four hundred were ordered immediately.

Initial reception was enthusiastic and pilots scored victories almost immediately. Unfortunately, the wings tended to collapse in flight. All planes were grounded. An investigation showed that Fokker had subcontracted assembly of the wing spars to a piano factory where inexperienced and sloppy workmen were responsible for weakening the structure. After "personnel changes", production resumed. In order to put a good face on the situation, the High Command renamed the plane the D. VIII. It was relatively successful but squadrons were not fully equipped with the plane until October 1918. Only 289 aircraft were produced before the war ended in November, 1918. Some reached Holland, Italy, Japan, the United States, and England as trophies, but most were scrapped in accordance with the terms of the Armistice. The Polish Air Force captured 17 aircraft, but only seven were in airworthy condition. All were used against Soviet forces in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1920.

Here is a video of a large scale model of the Fokker D. VIII in action:

Click Here for more information about the Fokker D. VIII.

Jo Kotula revisited this airplane in the "Box Art" for the Aurora kit for the Fokker D. VIII.

Aurora Plastic Model of the Fokker D. VIII
Artwork by Jo Kotula
Click to Enlarge

This is the Cleveland model of the Fokker D.VIII.

  

     

Cleveland Model of the Fokker D. VIII

Click to Enlarge

You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

Fokker D. VIII at the Cleveland Site
Click to Enlarge



Click to go back and select another cover.

Counter for the Entire Site (not just this page..)