Flight, July 1928

THE PARIS AERO SHOW 1928

The Fokker C. VIII

   Specially designed for strategic reconnaissance, the Fokker C. VIII exhibited at Paris represents rather an innovation as far as the famous Dutch constructor is concerned. Hitherto the great majority of Fokker service types have been biplanes, or at least sesquiplanes. In the C. VIII the lower wing has disappeared altogether, doubtless as a result of the special requirements which the machine has been designed to fulfil, and the parasol monoplane is strut braced, with the undercarriage telescopic legs attached to the front lift strut, which is in turn braced by other struts in such a manner as to provide perfect triangulation.
   Constructionally the Fokker C. VIII follows normal Fokker practice in that the fuselage is a welded steel tube structure, covered with fabric, while the wing is an all-wood construction with plywood covering. It is in the internal arrangement that the C. VIII is particularly interesting.
   Carrying a crew of three, the machine has been so designed as to reduce almost to vanishing point any "blind spots," as the sections through the fuselage will show. The pilot's cockpit is in front, just under the leading edge of the wing and behind the engine. Behind this is the fireproof petrol tank, placed with a small gap between it and the floor of the fuselage. Then comes a cockpit for a gunner, observer or wireless operator, who is provided with a prone gun position for firing downwards and under the tail. Finally the rear gunner's cockpit has a compensated gun ring, and the gunner can fire upwards through nearly a hemisphere. With all three members of the crew at their guns, the machine would be a difficult proposition to tackle. The lower illustration shows the crew at their working stations, doing telegraphy, photography, &c.
   The main data relating to the Fokker C. VIII are as follows: length o.a. 36 ft. 7 in. (11-15 m.); wing span 46 ft. 2 in. (14-03 m.); wing area, 377 sq. ft. (35 m2). When fitted with the Hispano-Suiza 12 Lb engine, the tare weight of the machine is 3,416 lb. (1.550 kg.); the useful load, amounting to 1,874 lb. (850 kg.) is composed as follows: crew 595 lb. (270 kg.); fuel and oil 760 lb. (345 kg.); equipment, 519 1b. (235 kg.). Total loaded weight, 5,290 1b. (2,400 kg.). Wing loading, 13-9 lb./sq. ft. (68 kg./m.2). Power loading, 7-9 lb./h.p. (3-6 kg./CV). Maximum power, 670 b.h.p. at 2,200 r.p.m.; cruising power, 450 b.h.p. at 1,900 r.p.m. Maximum speed (measured over square course with 6 km. sides), 142 m.p.h. (228 km./h.); cruising speed, 116 m.p.h. (187 km./h.); minimum speed, 62 m.p.h. (100 km./h.). Range at cruising speed (3-5 hrs.), 410 miles (650 km.). Climb to 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 2-35 mins.; 2,000 m. (6,560 ft.) in 6-35 mins.; 3,000 m. (9,840 ft.) in 10-8 mins.; 4,000 m. (13,120 ft.) in 16-85 mins.; 5,000 m. (16,400 ft.) in 25-25 mins. Service ceiling, 5,800 m. (19,050 ft.). Absolute ceiling, 6,300 m. (20,700 ft.). These performances are guaranteed to within a margin of 3 per cent, on speed and 6 per cent, on climb, provided the engine gives the power stated above.