The Fokker Eindecker - A Plane Worth Modeling
The Fokker Eindecker has an ideal layout for an indoor RC model
Fokker Eindecker in flight
The Fokker Eindecker was a German World War I fighter aircraft that was remarkably successful in the latter half of 1915. The Fokker Eindecker (Eindecker meaning “one wing”) can be considered the first aircraft expressly designed for the fighter mission. But what truly set the Fokker Eindecker apart from its French and English antique aircraft adversaries in the air was its synchronized machine gun.
Until the debut of the light weight Eindecker, the machine guns on fighter aircraft had to fire around or above the propeller arc, or else the machine gun’s bullets would literally knock the propeller off the engine while in flight. French engineers devised a set of metal plate deflectors on the back of the propeller to try and accommodate a forward firing machine gun, but this approach met with minimal success.
The Fokker Eindecker used a synchronizing device with the engine to interrupt the firing of the machine gun if a propeller blade was likely to get hit. This remarkable development allowed the German Air Service pilots to easily aim their fire from the cockpit, providing a distinct advantage over their Allied counterparts. The Fokker Eindecker was so successful during the latter half of 1915 that the era was dubbed the “Fokker Scourge” by British and French aviators.
Side view of a Fokker Eindecker full scale replica
The Fokker Eindecker was a single engine, single place aircraft. For a variety of reasons, this aircraft is an ideal candidate for an RC plane design. The mid-mounted constant chord wing provides plenty of area for a successful indoor RC model. The tail surfaces were unique to the full scale Fokker Eindecker, in that both the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces were all moving. There was not a fixed horizontal stabilizer or fixed vertical fin, to which a moveable control surface (elevator or rudder) was attached as is common for most aircraft. Both of the Eindecker’s tail surfaces were carefully balanced to minimize the pilot’s control stick loads. The idea behind the all-moving tail surfaces was to provide for maximum maneuverability as required by the fighter aircraft mission.
Eindecker three view
For an RC model of the Fokker Eindecker, I would recommend that we “cheat” a bit and do two things. First, increase the area of both the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. The Fokker Eindecker was designed just over ten years after the Wright brother’s first powered flights, and aircraft designers everywhere were experimenting. For a stable radio control model plane, it is better to err with planning control surfaces with slightly too much surface area than with too little.
Side view of Fokker Eindecker
The second change I would make is to include a normal fixed horizontal stabilizer and add an elevator. I do not think this change from the all-moving horizontal tail would be readily detected. The stabilizer and elevator combination will assist with achieving smooth flight.
As the Fokker Eindecker did not have ailerons, but instead used wing warping for roll inputs, the rudder will be very important for positive flight qualities in the turn. My recommendation would be to retain the all-moving rudder assembly on the prototype model. A fin and rudder would likely just not look right on an RC model.
Fokker Eindecker in flight
The Fokker Eindecker has plenty of internal fuselage volume for micro RC gear. Note from the top view that the fuselage retains a constant width, with a taper in height towards the tail when viewed from the side. This layout will lend itself well to building an RC model.
There is adequate room in the nose and cowl area for any electric motor. The nose moment (distance from the wing leading edge to the propeller) is fairly short. It might be useful to lengthen the nose a bit to help obtain the proper center of gravity location. Also, as you design the Eindecker, ensure all your radio control electronics and the battery are located as far forward as possible. It will be very easy to come up with a tail heavy model if you are not careful.
Eindecker front view
The landing gear arrangement is distinctive to the Eindecker, and should be easy to replicate in a model. There are enough rigging wires on the top and bottom of the wing to add visual appeal. These rigging wires can be simulated with elastic thread as on the Blackburn model plane. Finally, most Eindeckers had spoke wheels, which can be constructed as shown here.
A little over 400 Fokker Eindecker aircraft were produced. Eventually, the Allies figured out how to synchronize a machine gun to safely fire through a propeller, and the Eindecker lost its advantage. Fighter aircraft development was so rapid in those early days of flight that any aircraft type was quickly succeeded by newer variants.
The Fokker Eindecker retains its place as a significant development during the earliest days of air to air fighter combat. It is hard to imagine the skills and courage demanded of pilots on both sides to take to the air. World War I was fought without any radios in the airplanes, so once airborne the tyro pilot had to figure out how to safely get back to their home base. Parachutes were not used on airplanes until the final days of 1918, and then only by the Germans. As incredible as it may seem today, British Royal Air Force officials feared that the option of bailing out of an airplane would tempt pilots to avoid combat.
In summary, the Fokker Eindecker is an ideal candidate for an indoor RC model airplane. Give your design skills an opportunity to draw up a set of plans to get airborne with this historic aircraft!