Fokker E.I

The Fokker E.I, often called the ‘Eindecker,’ was the first successful German fighter aircraft of World War I and the inaugural model produced by Dutch aviator Anthony Fokker’s company in 1915. Developed from the earlier Fokker M.5 monoplane, the E.I incorporated a 7.92 mm Parabellum machine gun mounted to fire through the propeller arc, a revolutionary synchronization gear that allowed the pilot to shoot without damaging the blades. Powered by a 62‑horse‑power Oberursel G.II rotary engine, the single‑seat, high‑wing monoplane featured a wooden frame covered with fabric, a wingspan of 7.85 m and a top speed of roughly 140 km/h (87 mph). Although only about 80 examples were built, the aircraft’s performance gave the German Luftstreitkräfte a decisive edge during the “Fokker Scourge” of 1915‑16, forcing the Allies to develop their own armed scouts. The E.I demonstrated the tactical value of air‑to‑air combat and introduced engineering concepts, such as synchronized armament and streamlined monoplane design, that shaped fighter development throughout the war and beyond. Its legacy persisted in later Fokker designs, most notably the highly regarded D.VII, and it proved that a modestly powered monoplane could dominate the skies when equipped with effective armament, setting a template for future fighter engineering.

Anthony Fokker

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