Fokker M.7

The Fokker M.7 was a German observation aircraft of World War I, used by the armed forces of both Germany and Austro-Hungary.

Fokker M.7
General information
Type	Reconnaissance
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Fokker-Flugzeugwerke
Primary user	Kaiserliche Marine
Number built	20
History
Developed from	Fokker M.5
Variants	Fokker M.10

Design and development

Twenty aircraft, powered by 60 kW (80 hp) Oberursel U.0 rotary engines, were built, some of which were used by Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) shore stations. It was a single-bay sesquiplane (biplane) of conventional configuration, with slightly staggered wings using wing warping for roll control, tandem open cockpits and Fokker's distinctive comma-shaped rudder.

The W.4 was a floatplane version of the M.7.

Operational history

The aircraft was operated by the Austro-Hungarian forces under the designation Type B.I, following the German Empire's lettered prefixes from the Idflieg aircraft designation system. Serials assigned were 03.01,03.02 and 03.04-03.12 with 03.25-03.28 being assigned to subsequently repaired/rebuilt aircraft.

Variants

• M.7 : Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft version.
• W.4 : Two-seat reconnaissance floatplane version.

Operators

• Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops

Specifications (M.7)

Data from Data from Das Virtuelle Luftfahrtmuseum

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and observer
• Length: 7.49 m (24 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 9.94 m (32 ft 7 in)
• Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 27.6 m² (297 sq ft)
• Powerplant: 1 × Oberursel U.0 , 60 kW (80 hp)

Performance

Bibliography

• Gray, Peter; Owen Thetford (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam & Company Ltd. p. 339. ISBN 0-370-00103-6.
• Herris, Jack (2020). Fokker Aircraft of WWI: Volume 1: Spinne–M.10 & Watercraft: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 51. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-953201-05-8.
• Leaman, Paul (2001). Fokker Aircraft of World War One. Marlborough, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-353-8.