In late 1917, Fokker-Flugzeugwerke built two small biplane prototypes designated V.13. These aircraft combined a set of scaled-down D.VII wings with a fuselage and empennage closely mirroring those of the earlier Dr.I.^[1] The first prototype utilized an 82 kW (110 hp) Oberursel Ur.II rotary engine, while the second featured a 119 kW (160 hp) Siemens-Halske Sh.III bi-rotary engine.^[2]

Fokker submitted both prototypes at the Adlershof fighter trials in late January 1918.^[3] At that time, Fokker reengined the first prototype with the 108 kW (145 hp) Oberursel Ur.III.^[3] Pilots found the V.13s to be maneuverable and easy to fly.^[4] Idflieg issued a production contract after the V.13s were ultimately judged to be the best rotary powered entries of the competition.^[4]

The new aircraft, designated D.VI, passed its Typenprüfung (official type test) on 15 March 1918.^[5] The production aircraft utilized the Oberursel Ur.II, which was the only readily available German rotary engine. Idflieg authorized low level production pending availability of the more powerful Goebel Goe.III.^[5] Deliveries commenced in April and ceased in August, after only 59 aircraft had been completed.^[6] Seven aircraft were delivered to the Austro-Hungarian Air Service (Luftfahrtruppen).

In service, the D.VI was hampered by the low power of the Oberursel Ur.II.^[5] Moreover, the lack of castor oil and the poor quality of "Voltol," an ersatz lubricant, severely reduced engine life and reliability.^[1] The D.VI remained in frontline service until September 1918, and continued to serve in training and home defense units until the Armistice.

• V.13/1 : First prototype, powered by a 108 kW (145 hp) Oberursel Ur.III rotary engine
• V.13/2 : Second prototype, powered by a 119 kW (160 hp) Siemens-Halske Sh.III rotary engine

  Austria-Hungary

• Luftfahrtruppen

  German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

  Kingdom of Hungary

• Royal Hungarian Air Force - Postwar.

  Romania

• Romanian Air Corps - 6 captured during the war of 1919.^[7]

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Length: 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 7.66 m (25 ft 1 in)
• Height: 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 17.7 m² (190 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 393 kg (866 lb)
• Gross weight: 585 kg (1,290 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Oberursel Ur.II , 82 kW (110 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 197 km/h (123 mph, 107 kn)
• Range: 300 km (186 mi, 162 nmi)
• Endurance: 1 hours 30 minutes
• Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,680 ft)

Armament

• 2 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 "Spandau" machine guns

Notes edit

Bibliography edit

• Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-933852-71-1
• Herris, Jack & Leckscheid, Jörn (2023). Fokker Aircraft of WWI: Volume 5: 1918 Designs, Part 1 - Prototypes & D.VI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 55A. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-953201-09-6.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Crescent Books, 1993. ISBN 0-517-10316-8.
• Weyl, A.R. Fokker: The Creative Years. London: Putnam, 1965. ISBN 0-85177-817-8.