Airdrome Aeroplanes, Eindecker, Ultralight or Experimental Aircraft Kit

Ultralight Aircraft Magazine - The Fokker E.3, sometimes referred to as the Eindecker ("one wing"), deserves a significant place in aviation history. Not necessarily because of its aerial prowess, but because it was the first combat aircraft in the world to be equipped with a forward-firing, fixed machine gun synchronized to fire between the propeller blades.

The E.3 was the third and most important variant of Fokker's original monoplane family. Being a small but important step forward in the evolution of the fighter, it is important to note that this aircraft used wing warping for roll control, rather than the "more advanced" aileron flight-control system. Almost similar to the Fokker E.2, but built from the outset with the 100hp Oberursel U I engine.

Over 260 E.3's were built.
A second gun was sometimes added, but the additional weight seriously decreased performance. The E.3 was the most famous of the series, apart from its forward-firing gun it had the advantages of maneuverability and climbing speed, but was inferior to allied aircraft in other respects.
Even at the end of its operational life the Eindecker did not use ailerons, this decreased it's ability to avoid more agile enemy aircraft like the Nieuport 11.

The E.3's 100 hp Oberursel rotary engine was not very reliable. Engine power decreased with altitude and so the plane could not operate over 3,000 m (9,800 feet). It took 30 minutes to get to 3,000 m and maneuverability was almost nonexistent at that altitude.

The Eindecker was a direct copy of the Morane-Saulnier "Parasol" except for the characteristic Fokker tail plane and the synchronized machine gun. The "Eindecker" was typically armed with a single LMG 08/15 7.92 mm machine gun firing through the propeller using a synchronizing gear.

The kit you get from Airdrome Aeroplanes is complete in every way up to your final color coat. The kit and the excellent builder support you will receive from Airdrome Aeroplanes will get you in the air in a fraction of the time needed to build other WW-1 replica aircraft. No hunting for parts or waiting for shipments. Airdrome Aeroplane's kits have it all!! All nuts, bolts, rivets, gusset plates, machined plugs, tubing and any other hardware are included in the kits. You can get much more information about this kit... just give us a call.

All aluminum tubing to complete fuselage, wings, landing gear, cabines, lift struts, and formers. All aluminum sheet metal to construct gussets, cowling, & seat. All machined parts for control systems, lift struts, axles, and wings. All AN hardware to build aircraft, eye bolts, locknuts, thimbles, nico press swedges , aircraft cable (rudder cables, drag/anti/drag braces). Ball bearing rod ends for control system. Stainless steel pop rivets. Main wheels, tail wheel, spun aluminum nose bowl, plans and builders video. All covering supplies through silver.

The Airdrome Airplanes 3/4 scale FOKKER E-III can be constructed using normal hand tools consisting of hacksaw, hand drill, file, pop rivet gun, wrenches, and hand nico press tool. Area required for construction should be approximate the size of a single car garage.

GENERAL INFORMATION
WEIGHT........... 238 POUNDS   
GROSS WEIGHT..... 468 POUNDS 
STALL SPEED...... 26 MPH  (EXP)
CRUISING SPEED... 54 MPH  (EXP)
TOP SPEED........ 63 MPH               
RATE OF CLIMB.... 1150 FPM   
ENGINE:.......... ROTAX 503, 52 HP,
(If building as experimental a VW
or 1/2 VW options are available)
  FEATURES
ALUMINUM TUBE & RIVET CONSTRUCTION
CAD DESIGNED AND DETAILED
RIGID TRIPLANE BRACING
QUICK BUILD, ( 400 HOURS)
MODERN ENGINE OPTIONS
LIGHT RESPONSIVE CONTROLS