FOKKER EINDECKER

The ship that changed airplanes from targets to weapons in WW-I. I built the plane in my garage, flew it for two years and sold it to an airshow in New York. It was also in a few movies before it disappeared. It was found some 30 years later and is now being rebuilt by a man in Washington.

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Education

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• Fokker Eindecker

[Fokker1915]

I wanted to build something from WW-II but not just another biplane with German crosses. I did quite a bit of research and found most of them either bigger or more complex than I wanted to tackle. I finally settled on the Eindecker because it was the proper vintage, had a historical significance and no one else had built one. There's a story and photos in my website, jimforeman. Unless you are a high time tailwheel pilot, I wouldn't recommend building one.

[Fokker1915]

The fuselage on mine was basically a plywood covered box but it still took me two years to build it. But, unless you are a high time pilot with heavy experience in taildraggers and difficult airplanes, that wouldn't be the airplane for you.

Jimforeman

[Fokker1915]

It certainly was, going unatable at about 55mph. I cut the movement versus the stick in half which helped a lot then I split a 1" aluminum tube and installed it over the leading edge to spoil that area. Calmed it down a lot but it was still goosy in rough air. I spun it a few times and it was suprisingly docile in a spin and recovered quicly.

[Fokker1915]

Yes, it was based at Old Rhinebeck for three or four years and that's where the video clips were shot.

[ind347]

Great video and fantastic to see the home built replica.

Just out of interest, why was it scaled down? Due to the available engine capacity or garage space?

[Fokker1915]

@ind347 Actually, both. You might check out the story on building it in my website, jimforeman.

[Verdunveteran]

Beautiful! :)

[cobrachoppergirl]

Is this about the cheapest and easiest fighter aircraft to build? I want an airplane but they are too expensive to own and fly.  Like the hobby of rich people. Some guys 15 miles away from me built two Nieuport 11s. I'd like to have a 3/4 scale Dr.1 or DVII but I can't ever see saving $15K for an airplane just for the parts that I still have to spend a big part of my life putting together, its too crazy expensive.

[1SKILO]

Nice video...That full flying tail is a little quirky isn't it? Can you imagine what it must have been like to fly one with a rotory spinning away up front? Geez....Must of been a handful. 

[TrOuTster5]

When you say you flew it in NY, was it flown at Old Rhinebeck?