Fokker Dr.1
Updated: 10.10.99 (Refreshing to see that the Dr.1 as modeled in DoA is not colored red) The Sopwith tri-plane opened the eyes of German pilots on the Western Front with it's high rate of climb and maneuverability. Fokker's chief designer, Reinhold Platz, was responsible for the development of the Fokker Dr.1. It was put into production in early summer 1917. It's designation F.1 was changed to Dr.1 (Dr for dreidecker, or triplane). This was the mount flown by Von Richthofen himself. The Dr.1 was inferior to Allied fighters in terms of speed and a number were lost as a result of wing failure. More than 300 were built and saw service before the summer of 1918. This is not a large number when compared to the Spad VII but the enduring image of a red painted tri-plane is one of the more famous images of the First World War. As such it seems to be a must for any WWI flight/combat simulation. As the only tri-plane in the set it brings with it the best roll rate. The cross-section is a big target, it is very slow, and does not climb that well. The "gyro" effect (to put it simply torque which slows rolls and turns to the left) is an addition to 1.3r1. The Fokker Dr.1 took that addition. The turn rate suffered and low speed handling diminished. It can make the best-controlled split-s of the set, which can surprise a bogey, but you don't want to loose whatever altitude you have in the Dr.1, and the DoA arena, too fast. 2 x 7.92 LMG 08/15 MG Spandaus up front can hammer an opponent if you get the saddle up and this plane should hang on in the saddle for long enough to get the rounds in... though it seems to be a bit of a liability at the moment in the DoA arena. Version 2.73 Note: Ancedotal evidence and (maybe some hard data too) caused the Dr.1 to undego a radical improvement in climb rate. It can now reach 8,500feet in 10 minutes while before it could barely make 7,000feet in 10 minutes (10 minutes worth of fuel loaded).
Engine: 110hp Thuli-built Le Rhone or Oberursei Ur.II 9-cylinder piston engine Wing Span: 23 ft 7.5 in Length: 18 ft 11.25 in Height: 9 ft 8.25 in Weight: 895 lb (empty), 1,290 lb (maximum take off)
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