The Australian Vintage Aviation Society (TAVAS) – Fokker Scout Fighters

Meet the Fokkers…

Imperial German Air Service Fokker WW1 era scout fighter reproduction and replica aircraft – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The Australian Vintage Aviation Society (TAVAS) Museum has a fantastic collection of flying reproduction and replica World War One and early pioneering aircraft. A major component of their aircraft are replica and reproduction Fokker scout fighter aircraft as flown by the German Imperial Air Service (Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte) during the 1915-1918 period of World War One.

Replica and reproduction aircraft in the collection include those built in Australia, Europe and in the United States. The reproduction aircraft are built to the same specifications as the original and feature a reproduction engine that looks and works the same as those used in the Great War – some even have an original engine! The replica aircraft are generally built to the same specifications as the original but are fitted with a modern engine, modified to fit the engine cowling and look highly authentic.

Fokkers of the Imperial German Air Service

Fokker built a wide variety of aircraft for the Imperial German Air Service including monoplane, biplane, triplane and parasol scout fighters. TAVAS have all Fokker wing configuration types within their collection.

The Fokker E.III Eindecker (monoplane) reproduction is made to exacting original standards including clear doped linen fabric from Belgium which was made by the same family that produced such fabric for aircraft in World War One! A key feature is a reverse engineered 100 hp Oberursel U.I 9 cylinder rotary engine built by Classic Aero Machining Services in Blenheim, New Zealand). This one is an absolute beauty!

Fokker E.III Eindecker monoplane reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker E.III Eindecker monoplane reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The original E.III monoplane first entered service in 1915 and armed with a single 7.92mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine gun, it was the first type in World War One with a gun synchronised to fire through the propeller (a game changer). The aircraft used wing warping rather than ailerons for roll control. The reproduction is built to the same standard as one that would have rolled off the production line in late 1915 to early 1916.

Fokker E.III Eindecker monoplane reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

1915/16 Fokker E.III Eindecker reproduction with a bizarre looking 1901 Whitehead No. 21 Condor replica – the original has been reported by Janes as allegedly beating the Wright Brothers to complete the first heavy than air powered flight – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The Fokker E.III Eindecker armed with a single 7.92mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine gun, was the first type in World War One with a gun synchronised to fire through the propeller – – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker E.III Eindecker monoplane reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker E.III Eindecker monoplane reproduction with a reverse engineered 100 hp Oberursel U.I 9 cylinder rotary engine built by Classic Aero Machining Services in Blenheim, New Zealand – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

What a beauty! The reverse engineered 100 hp Oberursel U.I 9 cylinder rotary engine of the Fokker E.III Eindecker monoplane reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Attention to detail – Fokker E.III Eindecker monoplane reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The dashing Hauptmann Hans Joachim Buddeke flew Fokker Eindecker scout fighters in Turkey

The E.III helped establish the “Fokker Scourge” on the Western Front and was the type flown by Max Immelmann, the first German air ace whose name lives on forever in the “Immelmann Turn” air combat technique he perfected in the Eindecker. The TAVAS example represents an E.III operated by Turk and German pilots at Gallipoli in 1915/16 and one that was flown by German ace Hans Joachim Buddeke (13 air to air victories) during that conflict.

Manfred von Richthofen wearing the Pour le Mérite “Blue Max” medal (Prussia’s highest order of merit)

TAVAS has a pair of Fokker DR.I Dreidecker (triplane) replica scout fighters built as per the originals flown during 1917 and 1918. DR.I 425/17 sports the bright red colour of the “Red Baron” Manfred von Richthofen who scored 80 aerial victories – he achieved his final two aerial victories in the original DR.I aircraft on April 20th, 1918 (a pair of RFC No. 3 Squadron Sopwith Camel scouts).

The DR.I 425/17 replica was built in the United States to exacting detail with a welded mild steel fuselage and wooden wings. For reliability and safety reasons, variances from an original triplane include a modern Lycoming engine (the long-term plan is to replace this with a rotary engine), disc brakes and a tailwheel rather than a tail skid.

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker (Triplane) 425/17 and 450/17 replica scout fighters – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker (Triplane) 425/17 replica scout fighter – the original was flown by Manfred von Richthofen, the “Red Baron” (80 victories) – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

A modern Lycoming engine installed on the Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 425/17 replica – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 425/17 replica cockpit – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Replica 7.92mm MG08 Spandau machine guns on the Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 425/17 replica – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 425/17 replica – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 425/17 replica – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Leading German triplane ace, Josef Jacobs – 48 air to air victories over 3 years, of which 30 were achieved flying the Fokker DR.I triplane

The other Fokker DR.I Driedecker 450/17 replica was built to the same specifications in the United States. It is painted glossy black as per the original and sports the unique markings of leading German triplane ace, Josef Jacobs – featuring a fire-breathing, horned and bearded devil of sorts!

Jacobs scored 48 air to air victories over 3 years, of which 30 were achieved flying the Fokker DR.I and went on to live a long life, passing away in Germany in 1978. He flew the original 450/17 with Jasta 7 from February 28th until October 19th, 1918 when it was destroyed on the ground by Sopwith Camels (by the time of the aircrafts demise, apparently the unique art work had been removed).

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker (Triplane) 450/17 and 425/17 replica scout fighters – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 450/17 replica scout fighter as flown by leading German triplane ace Josef Jacobs (48 victories of which 30 were flying a triplane) – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Modern Lycoming engine installed in Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 450/17 replica scout fighter – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 450/17 replica scout fighter as flown by leading German triplane ace Josef Jacobs (48 victories of which 30 were flying a triplane) – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The simple open cockpit of Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 450/17 replica scout fighter – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The unique livery and markings on the Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 450/17 replica including the fire-breathing winged devil, were as per those sported by leading German triplane ace Josef Jacobs (48 victories of which 30 were flying a triplane) – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The unique livery and markings on the Fokker DR.I Dreidecker 450/17 replica including the fire-breathing winged devil, were as per those sported by leading German triplane ace Josef Jacobs (48 victories of which 30 were flying a triplane) – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

A Fokker D.VII biplane scout fighter replica is currently under construction at TAVAS. It is quite interesting to be able to see up close the uncovered framework of the fuselage and wings but eventually this one is destined to fly some day too!

Fokker D.VII replica under construction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The Fokker D.VII was first flown in January 1918 and quickly became the preferred aircraft of German pilots in World War One (approximately 3,300 were produced)

Armed with 2 x 7.92mm Spandau LMG 08/15 machine guns, maneuverable and fast (up to 200 km/h with a BMW engine) with good high altitude performance, in 1918 the Fokker D.VII was one of the best German scout fighters of World War One (3,300 were produced). They need to install a suitable engine – the originals flew with Mercedes D.III 160 hp, Mercedes D.IIIa 175 hp and BMW IIIa 185 hp 6 cylinder inline engines. A modified, inverted Gipsy 6 200 hp engine has been chosen to power the replica and the welded mild steel airframe built to original standards will be covered in fabric as per the E.III Eindecker.

Fokker D.VII replica under construction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

A real beauty in the collection is a Fokker D.VIII parasol wing scout fighter reproduction, fitted with an original Gnome 160 hp rotary engine that was discovered on an old air boat derelict in a barn in New Zealand! It was rebuilt by Classic Aero Machining Services in New Zealand and TAVAS engineers (the original aircraft flew with a German Oberursel UR.II 110 hp 9 cylinder rotary engine). A flying aircraft with a 100+ year old rotary engine!

Fokker D.VIII parasol wing scout fighter reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker D.VIII parasol wing scout fighter reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker D.VIII parasol wing scout fighter reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker D.VIII parasol wing scout fighter reproduction, fitted with an original Gnome 160 hp rotary engine that was discovered on an old air boat derelict in a barn in New Zealand! It was rebuilt by Classic Aero Machining Services in New Zealand and TAVAS engineers (the original aircraft flew with a German Oberursel UR.II 110 hp 9 cylinder rotary engine) – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

Fokker D.VIII parasol wing scout fighter reproduction, fitted with an original Gnome 160 hp rotary engine that was discovered on an old airboat derelict in a barn in New Zealand! It was rebuilt by Classic Aero Machining Services in New Zealand and TAVAS engineers (the original aircraft flew with a German Oberursel UR.II 110 hp 9 cylinder rotary engine) – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The “Flying Razor“ D.VIII armed with 2 x 7.92mm MG08 machines guns, was fast (204 km/h) and highly maneuverable but arrived late in the war and only in small numbers with the Imperial German Air Service (Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte). This aircraft is on loan to the museum until 2030 from German Fokker reproduction master, Achim Engels.

Fokker D.VIII “Flying Razor” parasol wing scout fighter reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

The cockpit and replica 7.92mm MG08 machines guns of the Fokker D.VIII “Flying Razor” reproduction – TAVAS, Caboolture Aerodrome, Queensland (November 2018)

TAVAS is a non-profit, volunteer based organisation, located in Hangar 106 at the Caboolture Aerodrome on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm (excluding Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day and Christmas day). Keep an eye out for their flying days and air show appearances!

References:

Australian Aviation – Hangar 106

TAVAS

The Aerodrome – Manfred von Richthofen

Wikipedia – List of victories of Manfred von Richthofen