The Vintage Aviator registered their very accurate Fokker E III Eindecker reproduction as ZK-EIN2 on 14/3/23. They have been working away on this aircraft for many years and it is great to see that they are still producing wonderfully faithful WW 1 reproductions. Zac Yates was there to capture some photos of it at Masterton:
ZK-EIN2 (c/n 0207) is an airframe that was initially built by Achim Engels of Fokker Team Schorndorf in Germany and sent to The Vintage Aviator to be finished. The Eindecker is finished as serial number 105/15 which was mount of German ace Ernst Udet of Jasta 15. It is fitted with a new TVAL built 100 HP rotary engine and as is correct for 1915, roll is controlled by wing warping. I guess this would make it the only wing warping aircraft in New Zealand and it must be more than 100 years since the last wing warping aircraft flew in New Zealand? ( I wonder how many wing warpers we have had fly here?)
It first flew at Masteron, piloted by Andrew Vincent, on 27/3/23. Zac was there on 29/4/23 to capture it flying, and it seems to have caught the RFC napping on the ground.
And TVAL have another Achim Engels Fokker E III in the works and from photos it is quite advanced.
Thanks very much for the photos Zac.
Skycraft Scout microlights marketed in NZ in the late 1970s were, I think, controlled laterally by wing warping
ReplyDeleteI believe the Bleriot XI at the 2006 Warbirds over Wanaka used wing warping
ReplyDeleteThe Scouts ZK-JJN, RWW and SLF are with John Mauchline at Whanganui, and Russell Broadie at Rangitata Island has ZK-FJI.
ReplyDeleteI was about to point out that the four Skycraft Scouts mentioned above are all warpers, ZK-JJN being VERY close to a return to flight. It's very cool to have a play with the technology first-hand.
ReplyDeleteJohn Lanham was at the controls when I took my pictures, I understand he and Andrew were sharing the duties.
Carried out the first flight too Zac.
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