Photograph:
Airdrome Aeroplanes Fokker D.VII ZK-FKR (c/n N219) at Rangitata Island in 2013 (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 82 kw (110 hp) Hirth F-30 four-cylinder, two-cycle, engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.79 m (22 ft 3 in)
- Length: 4.57 m (15 ft)
- Wing area: 13.74 m² (148 sq ft)
- Max speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Cruising speed: 151 km/h (94 mph)
- Stalling speed: 55 km/h (34 mph)
- Rate of climb: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Range: 338 km (210 miles)
- Take-off run: 64 m (210 ft)
- Landing run: 137 m (450 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 53 litres(11.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 213 kg (470 lb)
- Useful load: 136 kg (300 lb)
- Loaded weight: 352 kg (775 lb)
History:
The Airdrome Aeroplanes Fokker D.VII was an 80% scale replica of the German Air Force aircraft of that name, said to be the finest fighter of all the powers during World War I, this Company being based at Holden in Missouri, USA. The original fighter was designed by Reinhold Platz. It entered service after competing against a number of other designs and was tested at one stage by Baron Manfred von Richoften, he finding the aircraft simple to fly, steady in a high speed dive and possessing good visibility. A number of full-scale replicas have been completed around the world.
Airdrome Aeroplanes has produced a scale replica in kit form in a series of kits for the home builder, the kit comprising the all aluminium fuselage, wings, undercarriage etc. Power has been provided by the Hirth F-30 engine of 82 kw (110 hp) but Volkswagen conversions with a reduction drive could also be installed.
First of the type in this region became ZK-FKR (c/n N219) registered to G Burt of Queenstown, NZ on 1 March 2012. Three further examples are known to be under construction in the New Zealand Canterbury region, the series being imported by East Canterbury Aviation based at Rangitata Island, the second becoming ZK-FKG (c/n 25022010) to Dr Ritchie of Ashburton in September 2012, being followed in December 2013 by ZK-MKE (c/n N2006).
A Squadron Aircraft Fokker D.VII scale replica was placed on the Australian RAA Register as 10-0442 from July 1988 to July 2008.