Fokker M.5
Fokker · Germany · first flew 1913 · fighter
The Fokker M.5 was a wire-braced monoplane scout developed by Anthony Fokker around 1913–1914 that served as the direct design ancestor of the famous Fokker Eindecker. It was used by the German military as a reconnaissance aircraft early in World War I.
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:
- Pre-World War I Fokker monoplane scout
- Direct predecessor to the Fokker Eindecker fighter
- Wire-braced construction with rotary engine
Very similar to the A.I but with a slightly shorter, cleaner fuselage; wire-braced mid-wing monoplane with a rotary engine and no enclosed cockpit.
Specifications
- The Fokker M.5 has a length of 7.2 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.5 m (31 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
Fokker refined the M-series through several steps; the M.5L and M.5K variants differed mainly in wing span. The M.5 was accepted by the German army and some examples were fitted with synchronised guns to become early Eindeckers. It represented a key evolutionary step in fighter development.
Variants
M.5L (long span) and M.5K (short span) are the main sub-variants; the armed version evolved into the E.I Eindecker.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the German Air Service from 1914 onward; directly led to the Fokker Scourge period of 1915–1916.
Related aircraft
- Fokker M.3
- Fokker M.4
- Fokker A.I
- Fokker E.I
- Farman HF.20
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
- Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.2
- Sopwith Tabloid
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