Fokker D.VIII
Fokker · Germany · first flew 1918 · fighter
The Fokker D.VIII was a parasol-wing monoplane fighter that entered service with the German Air Service in the closing weeks of World War I. Known as the 'Flying Razor' for its distinctive single-wing silhouette, it was among the most advanced fighters of 1918.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Thick high-lift wing mounted above the fuselage on struts |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single parasol-wing monoplane fighter of World War I
- Thick high-lift wing mounted above the fuselage on struts
- Rotary engine and fixed undercarriage typical of late-war German fighters
Unmistakable as the only operational single-wing fighter of WWI-era German service; the high-mounted wing on short struts above the fuselage and the absence of lower wings distinguish it from all biplane contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Fokker D.VIII has a length of 5.86 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.34 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Reinhold Platz at Fokker and first flown in 1918, the D.VIII used a thick cantilever parasol wing that gave it excellent performance. Early engine failures caused temporary grounding, and the type only reached the front in quantity shortly before the Armistice.
Variants
The primary production version was the E.V, redesignated D.VIII after engine modifications; a seaplane variant was also built in small numbers.
Where you'll see it
Operated briefly by the German Air Service in 1918 and postwar by Poland and other nations that acquired surplus examples.
Related aircraft
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