Fokker V.28

The Fokker V.28 was an experimental prototype built by the Dutch‑German firm Fokker in late 1918 as part of the company’s “V‑series” of fighter concepts that culminated in the famed D.VIII monoplane. Conceived during the final months of World War I, the V.28 incorporated several novel ideas that marked a clear departure from the conventional biplanes of the era. Its most striking feature was a cantilever parasol wing of thin, plywood‑covered ribs, which eliminated the need for external bracing wires and dramatically reduced drag. Powered by an 110‑hp Oberursel rotary engine, the aircraft sported a streamlined, partially metal‑skinned fuselage and a low‑profile, fully enclosed cockpit that offered improved pilot visibility. Only a single airframe was completed, and flight testing was curtailed by the armistice, preventing the V.28 from entering production. Nevertheless, the data gathered during its brief trial program proved invaluable; the aerodynamic efficiencies demonstrated by the wing and the structural concepts were directly transferred to the subsequent D.VIII, which became one of the first operational cantilever‑wing fighters. In aviation history, the Fokker V.28 is remembered as a pivotal stepping stone toward modern monoplane design, illustrating Fokker’s forward‑looking engineering mindset at a time when aviation was still in its infancy.