The Fokker V.8
One of the most remarkable Fokker aircraft is the Fokker V.8.
The five-decker was built in the summer of 1917 and had a 120 hp Mercedes engine.
After the initial success of the Fokker Dr.I triplane, Anthony Fokker proposed a five-wing aircraft, reasoning that if three wings were good, five would be even better.
Reinhold Platz, chief designer at Fokker, was initially shocked by the idea, and further thinking on his part only reinforced this reaction.
Nevertheless, the aircraft was built. Using some parts from the V.6, Platz designed a machine with three wings at the very front of the aircraft and a pair of wings midway down the fuselage.
The balanced control surfaces on the front wings served as ailerons, on the rear double wings as elevators.
The pilot was sitting just in front of the wings of the biplane.
Like the V.6, the V.8 was powered by a water-cooled Mercedes engine producing 120 hp.
Fokker, who was his own test pilot, made two short flights in October 1917, after which the V.8 project was terminated.
Platz considered the aircraft such a monster that he later spoke of it only with reluctance, and he did not like the design being attributed to him.
(Text taken from the English Wikipedia).
Click on the photo to enlarge the photo
