Fokker E.I
Fokker · Germany · first flew 1915 · fighter
The Fokker E.I was the first of the Fokker Eindecker series, the world's first purpose-built single-seat fighter monoplane equipped with a synchronised machine gun that could fire through the propeller arc. It created the aerial phenomenon known as the 'Fokker Scourge' in 1915.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.22 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- First monoplane fighter with synchronised forward-firing gun
- Wire-braced mid-wing Eindecker
- Ushered in the Fokker Scourge of 1915–16
A parasol-style mid-wing monoplane with extensive wire bracing, an uncowled rotary engine, and a single machine gun mounted above the cowl. The lack of a fixed undercarriage fairing and the wire-braced wing distinguish it from later monoplanes.
Specifications
- The Fokker E.I has a length of 7.22 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.85 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The E.I entered service with the German Air Service in mid-1915 and immediately demonstrated the superiority of a gun synchronised to fire through the propeller arc over the makeshift deflector arrangements used by the Allies. Aces such as Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke flew the Eindecker series to great effect. The type was steadily outclassed by 1916 Allied designs.
Variants
The E.I was the initial production mark; it was followed by the improved E.II, E.III (the most numerous), and E.IV with a more powerful engine.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the German Luftstreitkräfte on the Western and Eastern Fronts from mid-1915 until mid-1916 when Allied pushers and new tractor biplanes regained air superiority.
Related aircraft
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