Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: Germany
Type: Monoplane, Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Fokker
Fokker Eindecker III Aircraft Overview
The Fokker Eindecker III, commonly known as the Fokker E.III, was one of the most important fighter aircraft of World War I, representing a significant step forward in aerial combat technology. Developed by the Dutch aviation pioneer Anthony Fokker 🔗, the E.III was the most produced model of the Fokker Eindecker series and played a pivotal role in establishing the dominance of German air forces during the “Fokker Scourge” in 1915 and 1916.
The Fokker E.III was an improved version of the earlier Fokker Eindecker fighter planes, and it was one of the first aircraft to be armed with a synchronized machine gun that could fire through the propeller arc without hitting the blades. This gave the German Air Force an important advantage in air combat, as they could engage enemy planes with much greater accuracy and effectiveness.
The Fokker E.III was powered by a 100-horsepower Oberursel U.I engine, and it had a maximum speed of around 87 miles per hour. It was a highly maneuverable plane and was able to climb rapidly, making it well-suited for its role as a fighter aircraft.
The Fokker E.III was used extensively by the German air force during World War I, and it was responsible for shooting down a large number of Allied aircraft. It was eventually replaced by more advanced fighter planes such as the Fokker D.VII, but it played an important role in the early stages of the war and helped to establish the dominance of German air power over the Western Front.
Operational History
The E.III entered service in late 1915 and quickly became the first true fighter aircraft to gain air superiority on the Western Front. Its introduction marked the beginning of the “Fokker Scourge,” during which German pilots used the Eindecker to dominate the skies, shooting down numerous Allied reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. The aircraft’s agility and firepower gave German pilots a distinct advantage over their less advanced Allied counterparts.
Despite its early success, the E.III had limitations. Its maneuverability was inferior to later biplanes, and its rotary engine, while reliable, limited the aircraft’s performance at higher altitudes. By mid-1916, the E.III began to be outclassed by more advanced Allied fighters like the Nieuport 11 and the Airco DH.2, leading to its gradual replacement by more modern German aircraft such as the Albatros series.
Legacy and Impact
The Fokker E.III’s influence on aerial combat was profound. It was the first aircraft to combine a synchronized forward-firing machine gun with an aircraft design optimized for aerial combat, setting the standard for future fighter aircraft. The E.III gave Germany temporary air superiority and forced the Allies to accelerate their development of more capable fighters.
Fokker E.III Specifications
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Length: 7.2 meters (23 feet 7 inches)
- Wingspan: 9.52 meters (31 feet 3 inches)
- Height: 2.4 meters (7 feet 10 inches)
- Wing Area: 16 square meters (170 square feet)
- Empty Weight: 399 kg (880 pounds)
- Gross Weight: 610 kg (1,345 pounds)
- Engine: 1 × Oberursel U.I, 9-cylinder rotary engine producing 75 kW (100 hp)
Fokker E.III Performance
- Maximum Speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 knots)
- Endurance: 1.5 hours
- Service Ceiling: 3,600 meters (11,810 feet)
- Climb Rate: 3.3 m/s (650 feet per minute)
- Climb Time to Altitude:
- Reaches 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) in 5 minutes
- Reaches 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) in 30 minutes
Fokker E.III Armament
- Guns: 11 × 7.92 mm (0.312 inch) LMG 08/15 machine gun, mounted offset to the starboard side and synchronized to fire through the propeller.
