Flyzone Fokker D.VII Micro EP RTF

Written by Larry Kruse Scale details that show up advantageously in the air As seen in the Fall 2019 issue of Park Pilot

SPECIFICATIONS:

TYPW: Semiscale electric warbird SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate WINGSPAN: 15.75 inches LENGTH: 12 inches READY-TO-FLY-WEIGHT: 1 ounce PRICE: $79.99 INFO: horizonhobby.com

Features:

• Scale scheme of Ernst Udet’s famous “Du doch nicht!” Fokker D.VII fighter
• Completely factory assembled and ready-to-fly right out of the box
• Lightweight construction makes it ideal for indoor and small-field flying
• Intricate scale details include lozenge camouflage, engine replica, machine guns, and more
• Installed ultramicro power system delivers a wide speed range and impressive flight times
• Includes transmitter, 1S LiPo battery, and four AA transmitter batteries


 

Product Review

Only five components comprise everything in the shipping box, making getting into the air quickly a priority with this ready-to-fly model. Note the tiny size of the 1S 80 mAh LiPo battery, which is rated to power the airplane for 7-plus minutes with managed throttle control.

>> In the not-too-distant past, Flyzone produced three micro-size World War I fighters—the Albatros D.III, the Royal Air Force S.E.5a, and the Fokker Dr.I triplane. When production was halted on all three, Flyzone continued to produce micros such as the popular Aeronca Champ and the Douglas C-47/DC-3 variants. Those of us who are familiar with the earlier World War I offerings are glad to see the return of a WW I fighter in the Flyzone lineup. The subject choice is probably the best WW I fighter: the Fokker D.VII. Although true micro aficionados will notice more than a passing resemblance to the out-of-production Ares version of the airplane, the people at Flyzone have freshened it up with the paint scheme of Germany’s second-highest-scoring ace, Ernst Udet, in addition to some construction improvements. Opening the box will reveal only the model, the 2.4 GHz transmitter, four AA batteries for the transmitter, a single 1S 3.7-volt 80 mAh LiPo battery, and an illustrated manual. The airplane comes ready-to-fly, with nothing to do other than install the transmitter batteries and charge the 1S battery with the built-in charger that is found under a small door in the lower left side of the transmitter.

The well-designed packing box serves as a carrying case with custom-molded slots and fixtures for the airplane, transmitter, batteries, and instruction manual.

The 80 mAh LiPo battery is considerably smaller than the 170 mAh units that are usually found in a micro. It is held to the fuselage by a magnet embedded in the battery well and a circular metal plate glued to the battery. Using a larger battery will necessitate removing some foam from the battery well, installing a hook-and-loop system to keep it in place, and rebalancing the airplane. The striking color scheme was one that Ernst used to honor his sweetheart, and at the same time, warn off all who challenged him in the sky. The clearly marked elevator that read, “Du doch nicht!” (“It will not be you!”), left little doubt in the minds of potential adversaries whom it was that they were about to face. The color scheme is enhanced with diagonal red and white stripes on the top wing and a four-color lozenge camouflage on the bottom of both undercambered wings. Key features include a wealth of scale details such as twin Spandau machine guns, a highly accurate replica motor, a painted pilot, a beautifully rendered scale propeller, and several other scale enhancements that are displayed in the photos. The elevator streamers are a nice touch, particularly in flight. Construction features that are immediately noticeable include the use of carbon-fiber rod for the wing cabane struts, landing gear with an embedded bridge between the back landing gear legs, soft tires on the wheels, and a lightweight vinyl covering. The covering is on the bottom of the top wing and both sides of the bottom wing, allowing for some additional torsional strength.

The carbon-fiber rod wing supports, the landing gear, and the propeller details demonstrate both scale authenticity and required strength in these crucial areas. An embedded carbon-fiber axle runs the length of the landing gear “wing,” with soft tires fitted to the wheels.

The camouflage covering on my airplane had quite a few trapped air bubbles, but it was an easy task to prick each bubble with the tip of a scalpel and smooth it down. A pin would work as well. The three-channel transmitter appears to be identical to the original Ares transmitter (although it’s a different color), and surprisingly it has servo reversing for the rudder and elevator channels. Binding has been done for you; however, if the airplane loses its bind for any reason, the illustrated instruction manual includes rebinding instructions. It also has button-type trim adjustments for the rudder and elevator servos. This little gem’s initial flights had to wait for a weather forecast of light wind (a rarity in my locale), but a week’s worth of patience was rewarded with a cloudy morning and wind at 5 to 6 mph. Using the Free Flight technique of flying above moderately cushioning grass provided some safety measure, and the model was hand-launched into the breeze. My clubmate, Harold Anderson, was kind enough to do the maiden flight honors so I could get some flight photos. The little Fokker proved to be stable, while still exhibiting good maneuverability using a gentle touch to the rudder and a bit of up-elevator out of a turn. Indoor flights demonstrated straight, easy takeoffs and a docile flight envelope, even at slow speeds. Landings required that a little power be kept on, tapering off to almost nothing as the model reached the gym floor. So far, my flights have been limited to 5 minutes, although the manual calls for 7-plus-minute flights with managed throttle. The airplane has a larger presence in the air than its diminutive size would suggest. Several spectators, after seeing the airplane in hand after a flight said, “I thought it was bigger than that.” Much of that optical illusion comes from the intricate and complete scale details that show up to a good advantage in the air. It is difficult to look at the accompanying flight photos and remember that the model spans less than 16 inches and weighs 1 ounce. Flyzone’s reentry into the WW I fighter arena has been a pleasant experience, with the hope of more iconic models to come, or perhaps the return of some of those that have been discontinued. The exceptionally well-done replica of Ernst’s Fokker D.VII will provide a great deal of satisfaction at a reasonable price for those who enjoy micro flying.

This flight photo demonstrates the profound effect that the painstakingly rendered scale details have when the airplane is in the air. The little Fokker D.VII is stable and maneuverable, similar to its full-scale counterpart, and has a presence in the air much larger than its diminutive size indicates.