Airdrome Fokker D-VII

Airdrome Fokker D-VII
Airdrome Airplanes Fokker D-VII at Sun 'n Fun 2004
Role	Amateur-built aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Airdrome Aeroplanes
Status	In production (2011)
Number built	5 (2011)
Developed from	Fokker D.VII

The Airdrome Fokker D-VII is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Airdrome Aeroplanes, of Holden, Missouri. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction. ^[1]

The aircraft is an 80% scale replica of the First World War German Fokker D.VII fighter, built from modern materials and powered by modern engines. ^[1]

Design and development

The Airdrome Fokker D-VII features a strut-braced biplane layout, a single-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. ^[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. The kit is made up of twelve sub-kits. The Airdrome Fokker D-VII has a wingspan of 23.3 ft (7.1 m) and a wing area of 148 sq ft (13.7 m²). It can be equipped with engines ranging from 80 to 110 hp (60 to 82 kW). The standard engine is the 110 hp (82 kW) Hirth F-30 two stroke engine, with a Volkswagen air-cooled engine with reduction drive optional. Building time from the factory-supplied kit is estimated at 400 hours by the manufacturer. ^{[1] [2]}

Operational history

Five examples had been completed by December 2011. ^[1]

Specifications

Data from Kitplanes and Airdrome Aeroplanes ^{[1] [2]}

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 15 ft (4.6 m)
• Wingspan: 23.3 ft (7.1 m)
• Wing area: 148 sq ft (13.7 m²)
• Empty weight: 470 lb (213 kg)
• Gross weight: 770 lb (349 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F-30 four cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 110 hp (82 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

• Maximum speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
• Cruise speed: 94 mph (151 km/h, 82 kn)
• Stall speed: 34 mph (55 km/h, 30 kn)
• Range: 240 mi (390 km, 210 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 960 ft/min (4.9 m/s)
• Wing loading: 5.2 lb/sq ft (25 kg/m²)

References

1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 39. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
2. Airdrome Aeroplanes (n.d.). "Fokker D-VII Biplane ~ 80% Scale Replica". Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2012.