Fokker V.2
Encyclopedia
The Fokker V.2 and V.3 aircraft
were developed from the Fokker V.1
, but utilized an 89 kW (120 hp) Mercedes
liquid-cooled inline engine instead of the rotary. This is similar to the Fokker V.6 being tested as the Fokker V.5 was being developed. Like the V.1, the fuselage was circular in cross section, and the wings were covered with plywood
. To correct the center of lift and center of gravity
for the heavier engines, these aircraft had their upper wing's outboard sections swept back.
For many decades, the V.3 was thought to be a modification to the V.2 instead of a separate aircraft. The designation was known, and assigned in error to the first triplane
, which also had cantilever wings. That aircraft was, however, the V.4, not the V.3.
A period photo in the book German Combat Planes, authored by Ray Wagner and Heinz Nowarra and published in the United States in 1971, shows a "Fokker V.2" aircraft with a redesigned empennage
strongly reminiscent of the Albatros D.III
in appearance, as a possible step in its experimental program.
Historian Peter M. Bowers has speculated that the V.1-V.3 were in fact proof of concept aircraft as they were too underpowered for actual use as fighters.
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
were developed from the Fokker V.1
Fokker V.1
-References:* Weyl, A.J. Fokker: The Creative Years. London: Putnam, 1965....
, but utilized an 89 kW (120 hp) Mercedes
Mercedes (car)
Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler...
liquid-cooled inline engine instead of the rotary. This is similar to the Fokker V.6 being tested as the Fokker V.5 was being developed. Like the V.1, the fuselage was circular in cross section, and the wings were covered with plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
. To correct the center of lift and center of gravity
Center of gravity
In physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
for the heavier engines, these aircraft had their upper wing's outboard sections swept back.
For many decades, the V.3 was thought to be a modification to the V.2 instead of a separate aircraft. The designation was known, and assigned in error to the first triplane
Triplane
A triplane is a fixed-wing aircraft equipped with three vertically-stacked wing planes. Tailplanes and canard foreplanes are not normally included in this count, although they may occasionally be.-Design principles:...
, which also had cantilever wings. That aircraft was, however, the V.4, not the V.3.
A period photo in the book German Combat Planes, authored by Ray Wagner and Heinz Nowarra and published in the United States in 1971, shows a "Fokker V.2" aircraft with a redesigned empennage
Empennage
The empennage , also known as the tail or tail assembly, of most aircraft gives stability to the aircraft, in a similar way to the feathers on an arrow...
strongly reminiscent of the Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
in appearance, as a possible step in its experimental program.
Historian Peter M. Bowers has speculated that the V.1-V.3 were in fact proof of concept aircraft as they were too underpowered for actual use as fighters.