Cool airplane photo thread

Fokker V.7S Triplane at the Schwerin Fokker Factory on 29 December 1917 from my original photo. One of four V7 Triplanes (V for versuch or test) built by Fokker with more powerful engines than the standard 110 hp Oberursel Ur.II rotary in the Dr.I and with longer fuselages to balance the heavier engines. For the V.7S, the S stood for its 160 hp Siemens-Halske Sh.III rotary, in which the cylinders and the crankshaft rotated in different directions to cut down on the inertial loads normally seen by rotaries with fixed crankshafts and rotating cylinders. Normal rotaries tended to shed their cylinders at around 1500 rpm, but the Sh.III's counter rotating cylinders and crank gave an effective 1800 rpm (900 rpm + 900 rpm) for more power. V.7S originally had a huge two-blade propeller, and required a lengthened landing gear for clearance. This landing gear was left intact after a change was made to a four-blade propeller to better work at the low 900 rpm propeller speed.

V.7S had a phenomenal climb rate for its time, but Fokker already had prototypes of the Fokker D.VII flying, so there was little interest in a hotrod Triplane. The Fokker D.VII is generally considered the best fighter aircraft of WW-I, especially when fitted with the high compression BMW D.IIIa inline six.






Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks, I can't imagine handling something like this with just a few hours from flight training.

 

Never seen a front view of the V.7 before. Thanks!

 

Now that's a dramatic image! A Spitfire and the two British carriers.

 

That is most of today's Royal Navy in one shot, including HMS Victory and the Mary Rose!

 

I thought the nose wheel is too small.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Bob Parks should like this one!

 

Those ventral fins bring back some heartburn. Lots of memories on those fins.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

I saw this airplane put on and incredible flying display at Abottsford in 1989 or 1990. Unforgettable to see. While it was there the crew lived in it with all amenities. It also carried tons of spare wheels with tires to replace those that had been scrubbed to bare during turning maneuvers since the landing gear assemblies do not articulate. I can't remember for sure but I think there is 6 per side.

 

From the height of the rudder horn it appears to be an FM-2.

 

After checking some ground videos of the airplane there are seven main landing gears per side. Twenty eight tires on the tarmac plus eight in the nose.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks Jack!

 

pretty amachoor audio........but I love the sound of 6 big fans 'turnin & 'burnin......

 

We get to see this and the Dreamlifter fairly often, and it is always cool to watch. I have stopped in the grocery store parking lot just to stare at them fly over.

 

Some items I should have posted before but just did not have time:

My own photo taken at Fairford in 1995:

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The Short Crusader: a rare beast. This crashed during the run-up to the 1927 Schneider Trophy.

From Wikipedia:

In mid August the Crusader was dismantled and shipped on HMS Eagle to Venice. Here it was fitted with the race engine, but since it was obviously slower than the other aircraft entered, it was intended to use it solely as a practice aircraft. On 11 September Schofield took off in the aircraft: since the aircraft with full fuel load was heavy on takeoff, he held the aircraft close to the water to build up speed. It is probable that the aircraft encountered a thermal caused by the hot weather, for suddenly the right wing lifted. Schofield attempted to correct this, but the control wires to the ailerons had been crossed during reassembly, so that the aileron movement was reversed. The aircraft continued the roll, and hit the water at a speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). The fuselage broke in half at the cockpit and Schofield was thrown clear, sustaining serious bruises but no broken bones. The aircraft sank into the lagoon and was recovered a week later, when examination of the wreckage clearly established the cause of the crash.

One of my favourite polo shirts:

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

By the time she set that record at ~440.7 mph, the Trophy had been retired by the UK, but at least she got some glory. Lasted until the He-100 and Me-209 came along.

 

Still, apparently, the world record for a piston engined seaplane (including those that can take off and land on damp grass or a moving trailer).