Fokker E.II
Fokker · German Empire · first flew 1915 · fighter
The Fokker E.II was the second production variant of the Fokker Eindecker series, the world's first purpose-designed fighter aircraft equipped with a synchronised machine gun.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- World War I German Eindecker monoplane fighter
- Synchronised machine gun firing through propeller arc
- Wire-braced shoulder-wing monoplane
A wire-braced shoulder-wing monoplane with a rotary or inline engine, a single synchronised gun atop the fuselage, and an unenclosed cockpit — the quintessential WWI German fighter shape.
Specifications
- The Fokker E.II has a length of 7.2 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.7 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Fokker Eindecker series introduced the interrupter gear that allowed a machine gun to fire through the propeller arc without hitting the blades, giving German pilots a decisive tactical advantage from 1915 to early 1916. The E.II used a more powerful engine than the E.I. The 'Fokker Scourge' it created forced the Allies to develop effective counter-measures.
Variants
The Eindecker series comprised the E.I, E.II, E.III (most numerous), and E.IV; the E.II was an intermediate production variant with uprated engine.
Where you'll see it
The E.II served with the German Luftstreitkräfte on the Western Front from mid-1915 and was flown by aces including Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann.
Related aircraft
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