Warbirds! #06: Red Baron's Iconic Ride, The Fokker Traditional Cache

Fokker Tri-Plane

Made famous by its remarkable looks and its celebrity ace, the Fokker Dr-1 is without question the best known airplane of WWI and one of the most distinctive in aviation history. In the hands of Manfred von Richthofen, aka the Red Baron, the Dr.1 was one of the most lethal dogfighters of the war, accounting for 19 out of his 80 kills. Despite its fame, the Dr.1 suffered numerous deficiencies, including a lack of speed compared to top Allied planes and poor climb and high-altitude capabilities. The last two Fokker triplanes of more than 300 built were destroyed by Allied bombing strikes, strangely enough, not during WWI but while on display in museums in Germany at the end of WWII.