Fokker D.IV

The Fokker D.IV was the German army designation for the M.21 biplane, a fighter aircraft that appeared at almost the exact moment that the long-running quality control problems with Fokker aircraft resulting in them being withdrawn from front line service.

The Fokker M.21 entered testing at Adlershof in October 1916. Fokker was forced to attend the tests, a painful experience as the aircraft failed a series of tests. In this first batch of tests main bracing wire and upper wing spars failed and the damage had to be repaired at Fokker’s expense. Despite this, the aircraft was accepted as the Fokker D.IV.

Seemly just about every element of the D.IV failed while undergoing further tests at Adlershof. The fuselage was found to buckle under pressure, the welding was poor, and the controls broke. The vast majority of the 44 Fokker D.IVs ordered were used as training aircraft, with 33 of them surviving at least until December 1917. The next Fokker aircraft to be accepted, the D.V, would be ordered as a training aircraft only.

Wingspan: 31ft 10in
Length: 20ft 8in
Engine: 160hp Mercedes D.III
Maximum Speed: 100mph
Time to 3,300ft: 3 minutes
Time to 16,000ft: 30 minutes
Armament: Two synchronized LMG 08/15 machine guns

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (30 October 2007), Fokker D.IV , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_fokker_dIV.html

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