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Red Baron


Adam

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he's right, here's what I found.

 

The Red Baron's Fokker Dr-1--Number 425/17:

 

Introduced in late 1917, the Dr.l had not only three wings but a supplementary airfoil on the undercarriage. These features enabled the diminutive plane (length: 18 feet, 11 inches; wingspan: 23 feet. 7 inches) to outclimb and out-turn almost any contemporary Allied aircraft. But the small engine, an Oberursel of only 110 horsepower, limited top speed to 103 miles per hour.

 

Nevertheless, in a dogfight a skilled aviator flying the agile triplane usually enjoyed the advantage. He could evade pursuit by turning tightly, and once on his quarry's tail, he could rarely be shaken off except by a high-speed dive. If the duel dipped to treetop level, an Allied pilot had only one course of escape: to zigzag away as fast as his plane would fly. Any attempt to turn or to climb merely closed the distance between him and the Fokker's guns.

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Actually, the plane that Richtofen made most of his kills in was an earlier model Fokker biplane. He didn't fly the Dr.1 until a month or so before he died, and I believe he was only credited for 3 or 4 downings while in it.

This man is correct, even speeled the name right. :)

The Triplane was not badassed, it got him killed. :p

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This man is correct, even speeled the name right. :)

The Triplane was not badassed, it got him killed. :p

 

Well, it wasn't really the planes fault, he was flying low and slow over the trenches at the time, and a machine-gunner on the ground got lucky.

 

The Tri was a pretty good plane for what it was. The designers placed their emphasis on a fast rate of climb and high maneuverability. They could have used a larger motor, but then they'd have lost some climb and turn, plus range would have gone down.

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