Cantilever wings - Outside struts not required ?

C

catch22

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I got Flyboys as a xmas present. In one of the "features" it's stated that neither the DR1 or DVII actually required the outside wing struts because of the cantilever wing design. However, the pilots of the day, being a suspicious bunch, wouldn't wear it and demanded the struts. So Fokker obliged.

Is there any truth in this ? If so would only wire bracing be used or not at all ? It seems hard to believe.
 
Sounds a bit like 'poetic license' to me also

The scene I greatly enjoyed was when our 'hero' was checking his ammo, prior to belting them for use in his machine gun, rejecting the bent ones, to help lessen jams. Actually the armorers job, but a nice touch nonetheless :applause:

IF those outer struts weren't used, I have no reason to believe the wings themselves would self destruct. However I fail too see how the inner struts could handle the load. Meaning the wing Did Not Fail, it ripped off in one piece :kilroy:
 
Cant blame the pilots for not wanting to climb in and give em hell. It just doesnt look right without those struts. But I suppose thats from being used to and always seeing it with the struts.

-Rooster
 
Basically, the outer plane struts where added to stop the torsional loads (twisting) of the wings in flight i.e. high speed and dives. For the Dr.1 this was do to a single box spar. For the D.vII it was do to the longer wing plane (span).

There are a few accounts of this wing twisting being written in various references on these planes from the fighter competition trials. The study was intensely looked at on the Fokker E.V/D.vIII under sand bag torsional load testing were the wing was loaded with sand place on an offset timber frame to apply a torsion load to the outer wing section. Many pictures exist of this testing.

509600.jpg



Cheers,
WF2
 
So in conclusion..... this all means that Ernst Kessler in "The Great Waldo Pepper" WASN'T doomed after his struts failed after all!!! :wiggle:
 
... I should add to the above post, this torsional load is also induced into the wing panel with great force by the aileron input loads.

WF2
 
Militant_Danny said:
So in conclusion..... this all means that Ernst Kessler in "The Great Waldo Pepper" WASN'T doomed after his struts failed after all!!! :wiggle:
Click to expand...

No, but that aileron about to come off could've been problematic. Just as Pepper;s landing gear might not have been fatal either esp. if there was water nearby. But, unlike Kessler, I don't mourn Pepper (Can't stand Redford...personal taste). Kessler said a very good aspect of flying..."When you're up there everything is in order" and it's on the ground where people are trying to screw you. (sic)
 
Ah yes, I forgot about the aileron issue he was left with. :faint:
 
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