Fokker M.1

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Fokker M.1 "Spider"
Fokker reconnaissance aircraft
Type: Training / reconnaissance aircraft
Design country:

German EmpireThe German Imperium German Empire

Manufacturer:

Fokker

First flight:

March 1911

Production time:

1911-1914

Number of pieces:

approx. 25

The Fokker M.1 Spider was a low wing aircraft from the manufacturer "AHG Fokker Aeroplanbau" in Berlin-Johannisthal . About 25 copies were built, some of which were used by the German air force as training and reconnaissance aircraft before the First World War .

history

In autumn 1910 Anton Herman Gerard Fokker began to design and build an airplane based on his own ideas. He used the workshop of the first German automotive college in Mainz and also managed to win over the aviation-loving fellow student Franz von Daum to finance an engine. After several attempts, Fokker got the professional help of an engineer.

In the spring of 1911, J. Goedecker Flugmaschinenwerke built a new airplane for Fokker from tubular steel, ash wood, bamboo and a single-sided canvas covering. With this airplane, which the Dutch press later named "Spider", he was able to obtain his pilot's diploma on May 16, 1911. As a result, Goedecker supplied the parts for around 25 aircraft of this type, which Fokker assembled in Berlin-Johannisthal from 1912 onwards. They were used in the Fokker Aviation School in Johannisthal and Schwerin , with sport pilots and other flight schools. This also included the aero aircraft construction and flying school at the Dresden-Kaditz airfield .

Anthony Fokker in Gonsenheim on his "Spider".

In June 1912 Fokker received an order for a spider from the Prussian War Ministry, and for two more the following year. There they were given the designation "M.1" (military). They were used as unarmed reconnaissance aircraft and as training aircraft until the end of 1914.

construction

The fuselage was made of wood with only two longitudinal members, the seats and the engine were initially unclad. Both wings consisted of two tubular steel spars, with ribs made of short tubular steel and curved bamboo sticks for profiling. The weakly swept wings were only covered with fabric on the upper side and had a strong V-position . The bracing was carried out using steel cables. The tail unit consisted of fabric-covered bamboo cane, the height control was carried out by twisting the height control surface. Two triangular rudders were above and below the elevator. The undercarriage had two wheels with balloon tires on a continuous axle, and a wooden runner was attached to each of the bars. In the middle of the wheel axle there was a grinding spur with rubber damping. While a faired version with a steering wheel was used in the Fokker flight school, the M.1 used by the military had a control stick, twin wheels and a boat-shaped body.

Technical specifications

Parameter Fokker M.1 spider
crew 2
length 8.00 m
span 13.60 m
height 3.00 m
Wing area 26.50 m²
Wing extension 7.0
Empty mass 660 kg
Takeoff mass 995 kg
drive a liquid-cooled four - cylinder in - line Argus engine
Starting power 75  kW (approx. 100  PS )
Top speed 115 km / h
Summit height 2100 m

See also

literature

  • Peter M. Grosz, Volker Koos: The Fokker aircraft factories in Germany 1912–1921 . Heel, Königswinter 2004, ISBN 3-89880-355-4 .
  • Heinz AF Schmidt: Historic aircraft . Transpress Verlag, Berlin 1968.

Web links

Commons : Fokker M.1  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Hannes Täger: Aviation pioneer Alfred Lipfert. Propeller Blade No. 41 / year 2018, page 4 ff.
  2. ↑ Aviation Archive Fokker "Spider"
  3. ↑ Drawing from Flugsport 1912
  4. ^ Peter M. Grosz, Volker Koos: The Fokker aircraft works in Germany 1912-1921 . Heel, Königswinter 2004, page 78