World War I Biplane Replica Makes First Oshkosh Appearance

The Fokker D.VII was one of the most formidable German aircraft in the sky.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 01:46 PM ET

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Pilot Dewey Davenport poses with a one-of-a-kind replica of the Fokker D.VII. [Photo: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Buck Toenges, a non-pilot aviation enthusiast, brought his unique, multi-decade replica of the formidable WWI Fokker D.VII biplane to EAA AirVenture for the first time.
The replica was a global team effort, blending modern materials with vintage building techniques and adapting components like its De Havilland Gypsy Queen engine.
It features a distinctive paint scheme with a lozenge pattern, a tribute to Toenges' wife, and a faux bullet hole, defying typical combat aircraft camouflage.
Pilots describe the experimental aircraft as flying "like an antique," noting its stiff ailerons and weak rudder, requiring significant attention during flight.

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There is something special about bringing an aircraft to EAA AirVenture for the first time—especially when that aircraft is a one-of-a-kind replica of the Fokker D.VII.

The Fokker D.VII is a German biplane designed in 1918 by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. During World War I, it was one of the most formidable German aircraft in the sky and a favorite of Germany’s Aces.