Fokker DR.1

Alarmed by the manoeuvrability of the then radical Sopwith Triplane, the German aircraft manufacturer Fokker quickly sprang into action to provide a direct competitor. Thus the famous Fokker Dr1 was born. Cemented in aviation folklore as the scarlet mount of the Red Baron, the Dr.1 was a highly manoeuvrable machine with excellent rate of roll but poor rate of climb and it was tricky to fly. Used in relatively small numbers, its famous reputation is owed more to the brilliance of its pilots then to its abilities as a fighter, being slower than many of its adversaries. It was also prone to suffering from structural failures of its wings. While it was unmatched throughout the war in its qualities in a dog fight, its lack of speed left it vulnerable and by 1918 it had been replaced by faster aircraft.