Fokker F.I

For the airliner prototype Fokker F.I, see Fokker F.II.

Fokker F.I
General information
Type	Fighter aircraft prototype
Manufacturer	Fokker-Flugzeugwerke
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Number built	3
History
Developed from	Fokker V.4
Variants	Fokker Dr.I

Anthony Fokker demonstrates the F.I prototype himself in 1917.

The Fokker F.I (company designation V.5) was a prototype German fighter triplane design by Reinhold Platz of World War I. It was an improved version of the V.4 prototype triplane. For many decades, the V.5 was misidentified as the V.4.

About the only noticeable difference between the F.I's overall appearance and the later production Fokker Dr.I examples was a subtle convex curve on the outlines of the tailplane's otherwise "diagonal" leading edge planform, leading into the aerodynamic balancing surface at the end of each elevator tip.

Idflieg designated the first three V.5 aircraft F.I, but all subsequent triplanes were designated Dr.I. Werner Voss was shot down while flying F.I 103/17. Manfred von Richthofen flew F.I 102/17 in September 1917, scoring his 60th victory in the aircraft on the 7th of that month. Von Richthofen then went back to flying his Albatros D.V. Kurt Wolff was shot down in F.I 102/17 on 15 September 1917. F.I 101/17 was tested to destruction in August 1918, failing at a load factor of 7.75.

The famous Fokker F.I flown by Voss during his last battle

Bibliography

• Herris, Jack & Phillips, Taz (2021). Fokker Aircraft of WWI: Volume 4: V.1–V.8, F.I & Dr.I: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 54. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-953201-08-9.