Fokker DC.I

Разработанный Рейнхольдом Платцем в 1923 году, истребитель-разведчик DC.I был дальнейшим развитием самолета C.IV, отличаясь от него крылом уменьшенного размаха. Экипаж DC.I (первая буква в обозначении которого означала истребитель, а вторая - разведчик) тандемно размещался в открытых кабинах.
   Шасси были выполнены по схеме с хвостовым костылем. Прототип DC.I был продемонстрирован ВВС Испании, которые в то время заказали более крупный C.IV. Но единственным покупателем самолета стали ВВС Голландской Ост-Индии, получившие 10 DC.I, служба которых продолжалась с 1925 по 1934 год.


ТАКТИКО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

   Fokker DC.I

   Тип: двухместный истребитель-разведчик
   Силовая установка: один поршневой W-образный двигатель Napier Lion мощностью 450 л. с. (336 кВт)
   Летные характеристики: максимальная скорость 245 км/ч на оптимальной высоте; потолок 8000 м; продолжительность полета 3 ч
   Масса: пустого 1400 кг; максимальная взлетная 1830 кг
   Размеры: размах крыла 11,75 м; длина 8,85 м; высота 3,40 м; площадь крыла 34,55 м2
   Вооружение: два носовых неподвижных 7,7-мм пулемета и один 7,7-мм пулемет на турели в задней кабине

Flight, August 1923

GOTHENBURG International Aero Exhibition 1923

The Dutch Section

   HOLLAND was represented at I.L.U.G. by one firm only, the N.V. Nederlandsche Vliegtuigenfabriek of Amsterdam. In addition to two complete aeroplanes and the all-Duralumin hull of a new Fokker flying boat, a number of scale models of the long series of Fokker machines produced during recent years were exhibited. Some of these models represented types to which we hope to make detailed reference at a future date. At present we must confine ourselves to the two types exhibited full scale.
   The Fokker C.IV is a two-seater fighter and reconnaissance biplane, fitted with either a 450 h.p. Napier "Lion" or a 400 h.p. Liberty. As exhibited at I.L.IT.G. the C.IV was fitted with the Liberty engine. The machine, which follows usual Fokker practice, is chiefly remarkable for the fact that, in spite of its considerable size, it is a cantilever biplane with no lift and anti-lift bracing, but with a pair of "N" interplane struts used principally to stiffen the wings against torsion. The main advantage of the cantilever biplane arrangement in this particular type would seem to be that it is possible to give the wings a pronounced stagger, thus improving the view. In a biplane whose wings depended upon external bracing, the introduction of the same amount of stagger would probably involve quite considerable structural difficulties. That the cantilever wings must necessarily be heavier than those with external bracing will be realised when it is remembered that what has, in effect, been done in the cantilever wing is to reduce the spacing from something like one chord length to the thickness of the section used, i.e., in the neighbourhood of one-tenth chord length. Nevertheless, Mijnheer Fokker would scarcely retain the cantilever without good and sufficient reason, and the main reason, it appears to us, must have been that he wished to incorporate a large stagger.
   Structurally the Fokker C.IV follows usual Fokker practice. That is to say, the fuselage is of the well-known Fokker type of tubular welded construction. In this country we do not allow welding to be used at any point where a great stress is likely to occur, but Fokker has now for many years employed the welded tube structure for his fuselages, and he has a perfectly good reply to all criticisms of the method by pointing out that there has never yet been an instance of failure. Not only so, but in a crash this form of construction may result in bent and damaged tubes, but there is no splintering. In the C.IV the covering of the front portion of the fuselage is aluminium, extending aft to the pilot's cockpit. From there to behind the gunner's cockpit the covering may be three-ply or armour plate, according to the wishes of the purchaser. The rear portion of the fuselage is fabric covered.
   The Liberty engine is mounted on a tubular framework, and is entirely cowled-in, the sections of the cowl being, however, easily detachable. The petrol tank is mounted just aft of the engine, force feed being employed. The side radiators are mounted in a novel way, as indicated in one of our sketches. Above and below the radiator are cantilever supports of approximately semi-circular section, having on their flat faces grooves acting as guides for the radiators. By a simple system of crank levers the radiators can be drawn into the fuselage when the machine reaches a certain altitude. The water connections are by long stout rubber tubes, so arranged that the travel of the radiators does not tend greatly to bend the tubes, which should, therefore, last as long as if the radiators were fixed.
   The gunner's cockpit is exceptionally roomy, leaving ample space for photographic apparatus, wireless, guns, etc. The seat is mounted on rollers running on longitudinal rails, and the "legs" of the seat are so arranged that by turning the seat upside down the gunner obtains a very low position, in which he can sit down in comfort right inside for studying maps out of the draught. If he wishes to use his guns, all he has to do is to stand up, when he can push the seat right out of his way and use his guns quite unhampered. Dual controls are provided, the gunner's pedals being mounted one on each side of the pilot's seat, where they are out of the way, although easily accessible when the gunner's seat is in a forward position. The control stick is normally carried in clips in the gunner's cockpit.
   The wings of the C.IV are of usual Fokker construction, i.e., having box spars of ample dimensions and ply-wood ribs with split flanges. The covering is fabric. The front spar of the top plane is supported from the fuselage by a "tripod" strut, the rear spar having a single strut with terminal adjustment for incidence. The lower plane is attached to the fuselage, and, as already stated, a pair of steel tube struts of N formation separate the top and bottom planes on each side.
   The outline specification of the Fokker C.IV is as follows: Length, o.a., 9.1 m. (29 ft. 11 ins.); span, 12.55 m. (41 ft. 2 ins.); wing area, 38.2 sq. m. (410 sq. ft.); weight empty, 1,300 kgs. (2,860 lbs.); useful load, 700 kgs. (1,540 lbs.); with Napier "Lion" engine the speed is stated to be 245 km. (152 m.p.h.); climb to 1,000 m. (3,300 ft.) in 2.5 mins., to 2,500 m. (8,200 ft.) in 6 mins.
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