Fokker M.7
Fokker · Germany · first flew 1915 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Fokker M.7 was an unarmed German observation aircraft developed by Fokker for the Imperial German Navy. It first flew in 1915.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- One-bay sesquiplane with slightly staggered wings and a much shorter lower wing
- Tandem open cockpits with the pilot in front
- Oberursel U.0 rotary engine
Look for a sesquiplane with a short lower wing, wing warping in place of ailerons and a rotary engine. Wing height is recorded as mid by catalogue convention for biplanes.
Specifications
- The Fokker M.7 has a length of 8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Anthony Fokker widened the M.6 fuselage to give the crew more room and made it a one-bay sesquiplane. The prototype was completed in January 1915. Testing showed the upper wing and wire bracing needed reinforcing, which cost performance.
Variants
The W.4 was a floatplane version with larger two-bay wings. It could not take off and was returned to its original configuration.
Where you'll see it
36 were built between 1915 and 1916 and served with the German Navy, the Imperial German Air Service and Austro-Hungarian forces. The Austro-Hungarians used theirs as reconnaissance aircraft on all fronts. Surviving aircraft became trainers, and seven were still in service on 31 August 1918.
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