Fokker F.I

The Fokker F.I, company designation V.5, was a prototype fighter triplane built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke during the First World War for the Imperial German Army's Air Service. It was an improved version of the V.4 prototype, and after Anthony Fokker returned from the front on 13 June 1917 having heard that pilots such as Manfred von Richthofen had been impressed by the Sopwith Triplane, he had Reinhold Platz design it as a triplane optimized for climb, with lengthened upper and middle wings, overhung ailerons on the upper wing and thin interplane struts to remove the vibration that had troubled the V.4. Three aircraft were built in 1917, ordered by the Inspectorate of Flying Troops in July. One was destroyed during static load testing, and the other two were flown in combat testing at the front by pilots including Werner Voss and Manfred von Richthofen, and both were shot down by Allied aircraft. All later triplanes were designated Dr.I.