Varumärken

Just after a gain of Fighter Competition in February 1918 by Fokker V11 prototype, Inspectorate of Aviations Troops (Idflieg) immediately ordered from Fokker Flugzeugwerke 400 new aircrafts, which received official designation Fokker D.VII. But at the spring of 1918 park of German fighter aircrafts was totally obsolete and needed much mope a new planes. Fokkers plants had a limited possibilities and Fokker also developing in same time new prototype V18 with best performances in compare with D.VII (this plane would became late well-known as Fokker E.V/D.VIII, or, more familiarly, Flying Razor).
Idflieg solved this problem simply: soon Albatros Flugzeugwerke, which stopped at this moment production of obsolete Albatros D.Va type, received order on license production of D.VII on its plants. Apart from main factory, based in Johanisthal, Albatros had a branch factory OAW (OsTDeutschen Albatros Werken) on the Schneidemuhl, and these two plants could build many more aircrafts than on the Fokker plants.
First Albatros-built D.VII was absolutely similar to early-built by Fokker Company, and only presence letters Alb (to Albatros) just after the serial differed these machines.
After some crashes on the air connected with the ammunition caught fire, pilots began afraid the new plane. Some experienced pilots still flying on D.VII but without cowling panels (for best ventilation of engine and ammunition); Carl Degelow from Jasta 40 even deleted upper panel for maximum ventilation.
Albatros Company modified system of ventilation, - new louvers were added to the sides panels as well as with special maintenance openings. This innovation remained on further license aircrafts (OAW also changed system of ventilation).
About 2600 aircrafts were built under license (together with OAW plant), - more than half from all - built Fokker D.VII.
Allies as trophies received many D.VII just after the end of WWI; all others aircrafts were scrapped in accordance with Armistice conditions.

Span, upper	8,70 m
Span, lower	7,01 m
Length	7,00 m
Weight of aircraft	757 kg
Take off weight	959 kg
Time of 2000 m altitude reaching	4 min
Speed, max	165 km/h
Engine, type (power)	Mercedes D.III (160 h.p.) or Mercedes D.IIIau (180 h.p.) or BMW IIIa (185 h.p.)
Machine guns	2xLMG 08/15 Spandau

On April 1918 new fighters Fokker D.VII were delivered to the most known and experienced hunting units (Jastas). This plane is seriously differed among all others fighters of that time, especially for its excellent flying performances, strong construction and highly live ness. British and French pilots, whos meet new fighter in the sky of Western Front, gave it nickname square-nosed. Dogfighters with square nosed planes was fatal for allied planes in majority of cases.
First barchs of Fokker D.VII were built directly on the Fokker plants in Schwerin. German Air Commanding need a more quantity of new fighters and soon Albatros Werke received order to produce D.VII under license. Apart head plants, located in Johannisthal, Albatros company had a branch plants in Schneidemuhl, named OsTDeutschen Albatros Werken. Possibilities of the OAW factory allowed building more aircrafts than Albatros and Fokker plants build together.
Early OAW - built planes were similar to Fokker - built machines in almost details. Main difference was four-color lozenge fabric on all surfaces apart nose, where distinctive giraffe - like pattern is applied, - mauve stains on the green cowling.
On May 1918 firsts shame news came from the Front: several D.VII crashed after in-flight fires; origin of these troubles was unknown until Lt.F. Friedrichs survived after same accident. He reported that ammunition in his aircraft caught fire and main fuel tank and fuels vapor around the engine flashed also.
Ammunitions installation was improved. For best ventilation of engine many additional louvers on the lateral panels were added. Through all period when OAW build Fokker D.VII, different sub modification had non-similar external points of cooling system.
About 2000 Fokker D.II was built by OAW in total, - larger than 50% from all built of this particular type. Allies captured big quantity of uncompleted OAWs D.VII after occupation of this Germanys region.

Wing Span	893 m
Length	7.00 m
Empty weight	757 kg
Take-off weight	959 kg
Speed, max	190 km/h
Engine, type (power)	Mercedes D.III (160/180 h.p.) or Mercedes D.IIIau (180/200 h.p.)
Machine guns	2xLMG 08/15 Spandau

In the autumn of 1917 Germanys Idflieg (the aviation inspection section) quickly fixed a date for a Fighter Competition, with the aim of replacing fighter Aerodromes. After the appearance of the Sopwith Camel and the SPAD XIII, all German scout planes became obsolete (the first being the Albatros DV) and the allies now dominated the sky. The most modern German design, the Fokker F.I (Triplane) arrived at the Front during August of 1917 but had many technical problems that needed to be dealt with.
At the end of September 1917 Anthony Fokker gave an order to prepare a new project - the V.11, the new aircraft had to be a biplane with cantilever wings (no external bracing, which created additional air resistance) and powered by the 160 h.p. Liquid-cooled Mercedes D.III.
On the 21st of January 1918 the fighter competition began in Adlershof, thirty new types were proposed, among them the V.11, which had an impressive showing of its flying characteristics since the first test fight. The famous Red Baron - Manfred Von Richthofen praised the new V.11 aircraft after testing but had a few negative remarks to make about the V.11. His remarks were taken into account and the V.11 was modified before the competition in Adlershof, which was to end on the 12th of February. Fokkers plane won the competition, and Germanys High command planned an offensive against the allied troops during March of 1918, the plan obviously needed support from the sky. Production of the Fokker D.VII (the official name of the V.11) immediately began in Fokkers plants, together with licensed production of the Albatros in the OAW factories.
The early-built Fokker D.VIIs began arriving at the Front by the end of March 1918. Quantities of the new type were minimal and only one D.III was assigned to each Jasta (hunting squadron). Usually the D.VII was given only to the best aces and most experienced pilots. Manfred Von Richthofen received his own D.VII during April, but he preferred his Lovely Dr.I, probably, this was a fatal decision, made the day before his death.
During July of 1918 more than thirty Jastas were operating this type, the total number of D.VIIs at the Front being 407 aircraft. The first combat experience with the D.VII proved that it was the best fighter of the time. The D.VII was clearly better than any allied fighter in performance, it had a higher maximum speed, very strong Construction, and some aircraft even returned after battle without struts or cables!
775 planes of this type reached the Front up until November 1918. The majority of them being equipped with the more reliable and powerful Mercedes D.IIIau or BMV IIIa engines.
More than 3000 Fokker D.VIIs were built in Germany, about 200 aircraft, powered by the 200 h.p. Austro Daimler engine were built in Austria-Hungary under License. After the war, many Dutch built D.VIIs were sent to Belgium, some to Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania and others. Soviet Russia purchased 50 aircraft, and confiscated D.VIIs were delivered to the U.S., many being used in the Aerial Circus as well as in the Hollywood movies.
The Fokker D.VII was clearly the best fighter of the Great War, this achievement being confirmed in Article IV of the Versailles Treaty; as a condition of the treaty, the German armies must surrender the following war material: 1700 airplanes - including fighters and bombers, and first - all Fokker D-7s and all night bombing machines.
These statements fully reflected the characteristics of one of the best WWI planes, which became a symbol of Germanys most advanced achievements and the engineering genius of Anthony Fokker.

Span, upper	8,93 m
Span, lower	7,00 m
Weight of aircraft	757 kg
Take of weight	959 kg
Time of 2000 m altitude reaching	4,0 min
Service ceiling	6000 m
Engine	Mercedes D.III (160 h.p.) or Mercedes D.IIIau (180 h.p.) or BMW IIIa (185 h.p.)
Armament	two fixed LMG 08/15 Spandau

The Osterreichische Flugzeugfabrik AG(Oeffag) built only 16 D.II aircraft; all subsequent machines represented a D.III modification. The new version kept the D.IIs fuselage, tail unit and undercarriage, but its wing construction had undergone development. In fact, the license version retained the original German wing design, but Oeffags engineers improved the wings structure, giving them more strength because many German D.IIIs had had wing failures.
The D.III (Oeffag) series 53 prototype first flew in February 1917, and in June the first aircraft reached the Front. In comparison with the Hansa Brandenburg D.I, the new fighters were superior in all main aspects of performance (climb, maneuverability); moreover, many pilots regarded the D.III as absolutely safe. Rate of climb was even slightly superior to the German D.III. Armament of D.III (Oeffag) increased up to the two machineguns.
The dimensions of the license-built Albatros D.III also slightly differed from its German cousin, because of the manufacture and installation of a new engine as well as other details. In all, 45 D.III (Oeffag) series 53 aircraft were built. All of these fighters were dispersed between Front-line and training units. Many of them served until the last days of the war. In the summer of 1917 a new, more powerful engine (200 hp) was installed and this sub-modification, later named the D.III (Oeffag) series 153, with improved performances, replaced the series 53 in production.

Wingspan upper	9,0 m
Wingspan lower	8,7 m
Length	7,35 m
Take off weight	964 kg
Speed, max	178 km/h
Engine	1x185h.p. Austro-Daimler
Machine guns	2x0,8mm Schwarzlose7/12

In April 1918, new fighters from Fokker, the D.VII, were delivered to the most experienced hunting units (Jastas). This plane was quite different among other fighters of the time, especially noted for its excellent flight performance, strong construction, and high maneuverability. British and French pilots, who met the new fighter in the sky over the Western Front, gave it the nickname Square-Nose. Dogfighting with Square Nose planes was fatal for allied planes in a majority of the cases.
The first batch of Fokker D.VIIs were built directly in the Fokker plants of Schwerin. German Air Command needed a greater quantity of new fighters, and soon the Albatros Werke received an order to produce the D.VII under license. Apart from the primary plants, located in Johannisthal, the Albatros company had branch plants in Schneidemuhl, named the OsTDeutschen Albatros Werken. The production possibilities of the OAW factory allowed building more aircraft than the Albatros and Fokker plants put together.
The early OAW built planes were similar to Fokker built machines in almost all details. The main difference was the four-color lozenge fabric used on all surfaces except the nose, where a distinct Giraffe like pattern was applied, basically mauve stains on the green cowling.
During May of 1918 the first bad news concerning the D.VII came from the Front: several D.VIIs crashed after having in-flight fires, the origin of these fires remained unknown until Lt.F. Friedrichs survived an accident. He reported that the ammunition in his aircraft caught fire causing fuel vapor from the main fuel tank to flash.
The ammunition installation was improved. Ventilation around the engine was improved by adding additional louvers on the engine side panels. Through all of the production period when OAW built Fokker D.VIIs, different modifications produced different external cooling system louver locations.
About 2000 Fokker D.VIIs were built by OAW in total, more than 50% of all the D.VIIs built. Allies captured a large quantity of uncompleted OAW D.VIIs after the occupation of this region in Germany.

Wing Span	893 mm
Length	7.00 m
Empty weight	757 kg
Take-off weight	959 kg
Speed, max	190 km/h
Engine, type (power)	Mercedes D.III (160/180 h.p.) or Mercedes D.IIIau (180/200 h.p.)
Machine guns	2xLMG 08/15 Spandau