Aeordynamics and WWI Aircraft

There was a very interesting, and well-illustrated article in the January, 2008 issue of Air and Space/Smithsonian Magazine by Peter Garrison on the aerodynamics of WWI aircraft – “What the Red Baron Never Knew”

The article provides a brief overview of the design developments of aircraft prior to the war, and then gives specific details on the Fokker Dr. 1, Sopwith Camel, SE. 5 and the Neuport 28.

Through computer generated analysis, the inefficiency of the three-wing construction of the Dr. 1 is demonstrated, as well as the friction/drag effects of the Sopwith Camel.

For some reason, they did not include the graphic analysis of the Dr. I wings on their web site, but essentially, the lift generated by the middle wing was almost completely cancelled out by high pressure area generated below the upper wing.

At the same time, Garrison explains the innovation of the thick wing design on the Dr. I, and how it was enhanced on the Fokker D. VII and D. VIII. “…the D. VIII’s marvelous wing eclipsed all of its other faults; it might as well have been a time traveler’s gift from the future.”

There are also details on the war-time evolution of the rudder, and how bigger is not always better (British SE. 5 vs. Fokker D.VII).

In one of the side articles Garrison seems to agree with author by Jon Guttman about the aces of WWI preferring their kills to be quick, and by surprise resulting in their avoidance of dogfights whenever possible. This was the one of the points made by Guttman during his presentation at this 2007 League of WWI Aviation Historian’s conference.

When addressing the shedding of wing fabric on Neuport aircraft, Garrison does not mention the Neuport 28 specifically, but he does use a quote by Eddie Rickenbacker who was talking about the Neuport 28. For more information on the Neuport 28’s wing problems and other issues, I would recommend checking out the first couple of chapters of “Hat in the Ring” by Bert Frandsen. He goes into detail about the issues of the Neuport 28, both real and perceived by members of the 1st Pursuit Group in the spring of 1918.


See them in person:

Fokker Dr. I
National Museum of the USAF - Dayton, OH
Vintage Aero Flying Museum - near Denver, CO

Sopwith Camel
National Museum of the USAF - Dayton, OH

Fokker D. VII
National Museum of the USAF - Dayton, OH
Vintage Aero Flying Museum - near Denver, CO

Fokker D. VIII
Museum of Flight - Seattle, WA

Neuport 28
National Museum of the USAF - Dayton, OH

SE.5
Vintage Aero Flying Museum - near Denver, CO