Why Not Land Your Fokker Triplane in a Crosswind?

Crosswind about 60 deg. off port wing.

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[xvoy2002]

Ì`m curious from a response from anyone from this club. Looking at this video it seems this plane i built from the original plans, including a rotary engine that actually rotates unlike modern rotary engines. Do clubs not update these planes to make them safer to fly, or do they just like flying the old ones for the thrill of it. Looks like a lot of fun.

[Ronald Marcotte]

We are dedicated to building/restoring the aircraft collection of the Pioneer Flight Museum. These are museum pieces not movie props. We want visitors to experience the authentic sight, sound motion and, yes, even the smell of these old airplanes, many of which used castor oil lube. We do sneak in a few changes that are not so obvious, such as better adhesives and paints where the payoff in durability is large.

[MrOUTMAN99]

There is no cross wind. The windsock, it's hanging dead. Look at the controls and track on final & roll out...no crab and straight track! The pilot "wheel lands" fast - as the tail comes down, the p factor induces a swerve to the left. The massive wood prop, rotating engine, short nose...that's the result. A pilot unaware of the physics of P factor on landing. The only thing to do is go into the swerve with aileron and hope adverse yaw will help. Why never build toe in on a tail dragger.

[Ronald Marcotte]

The day had variable, gusty winds which kept the Dr.1 grounded most of the morning. The wind can be heard in the camera microphone at the moment of landing. It is irrelevant that there was a lull minutes later as the Dr.1 taxied past the windsock. With the engine/prop essentially freewheeling when landing, no differential thrust is developed and hence no P factor. The short thick fuselage does however blank out the small rudder upon landing causing loss of rudder authority.

[Ronald Marcotte]

The LeRhone engines were mostly collected in the 20's and 30's when they were practically being given away by the Army. Now, of course, they are very valuable. Many were from Thomas Morse Scouts.

[KyleMunchProductions]

I like how it's a replica of Werner Voss's Fokker dr.1 triplane he was a legendary ace but died a horrible death

[ajjs02]

That wasn't so bad. I was expecting a full ground loop.

[1SaG]

It's like the guy on the video says: The rudder is simply ineffective at low speed. Plus those old planes don't have tail-wheels but a "strut" or "skid" so you can't swing the AC around after landing to kill forward motion

[reggveg]

That's one tough Fokker

[iain wakerley]

Brave men who ever fly's these old things my hat of to you sir.

[qutip14]

Is this a hard plane to fly?

[ThatGuyWhoFanDubs]

Most, if not all of the radial engine scouts of the time had the problem of ground looping. Most ground loop accidents would happen in cross winds when the pilot failed to maintain enough RPMs on the engine. Because the Dr1 had three wings, it had more lift there for more prone to a ground loop. The bottom wings on later models had small ash skids as a way to prevent said ground loops.

[t1oxETy]

theres wood on the ends of the wings for a reason ^^

[Detoyato]

And exceedingly proud of it :P