Originally Posted by
elmshoot
Maybe the Fokker D8. Some of the clues don't match, the wing did have some issues in the beginning.
Sparky
Sparky; again a really great answer, but not where we're headed. But you do earn a bonus clue for your attempt. And, since it's after midnight here and I have to be up and gone again in the wee hours of the morn (I'm teaching a Range Safety Officer (RSO) course tomorrow morning), I'll go ahead and drop the morning clue now. Thanks; Ernie P.
BTW; The Fokker D-8 was a great airplane. But again, it was no part of an airplane that Germany needed in 1918.
What warbird do I describe?
1. This aircraft was not one of the more famous in its war. As such, it is largely unknown today
2. But it was very nearly much better known.
3. And there is a chance that, had it been the winner in an informal competition with a much more famous aircraft, it would itself be much more famous today.
4. It was not a formal competition as such; but a decision was being made as to which single aircraft type was to be produced in largely increased numbers. And our subject was one of the two under active consideration; although mainly as a backup for the other aircraft.
5. But the question is; “Would it have been famous or infamous”?
6. In trials, it proved to be an able contender.
7. It was fast and handled well.
8. It was very maneuverable.
9. It climbed quickly.
10. It offered its pilot excellent visibility.
11. Two versions were produced for the trials.
12. The second version was quite similar, but with a heavier armament.
13. When it was proposed to an ally, the ally wasn’t informed it was a design for a single seat fighter; and the ally decided not to order any of the type. And the producing country decided to select the other aircraft as its main fighter.
14. Nevertheless, more than 1,000 of the aircraft were produced as fighters.
15. It was very popular with the pilots who flew it. They loved its speed and maneuverability.
16. But there proved to be a wing defect; and there were several losses related to wing failure.
17. As a result, the plane was withdrawn from combat rather quickly.
18. Oddly enough, the wing was apparently quite robust; and the problem was probably in a design area not then well understood.
19. The manufacturer then decided to offer the type as a trainer.