Siemans Schuckert.

Hi Jim
Glad you could join us.
The Siemans Schuckert series of fighters did hold out great potential but as Melv I think said the rotary engine was at the end of it’s design lifespan and castor oil was in short supply by 1918 in Germany.
Also the Siemans Halske Sh III engine was hellish complicated and prone to cooling problems. That’s why the cowlings on the SSW series fighters were always chopped down to just that sort of spidery cowl. Originally they were close cowled but had to be withdrawn while modifications were carried out.
Also despite what has been written I think they suffered pretty badly from rotary torque problems and spun like tops.
I think the D.III got into service but the even better D.IV was just a bit too late.
The most famous SSW D.III pilot was Ernst Udet who had one marked with his ‘Lo’ insignia.
Lo was the name of his first wife I think an opera singer called Lo Zink.
If you think Great War people get their knickers in a twist over Von R’s triplane colours you should try to get agreement on the colours of this aircraft and as for the colour of the Voss Dr.I—just don’t OK.
Cheers
Andy
PS I’ve often wondered why Castor Oil was so short in Germany. Perhaps after eating all that sausage and Sauerkraut they had upset stomachs!!!
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Pictures.

Alex
Great Pictures.
Especially the last one.
Cheers
Andy

Oshkosh??
always liked the Magister.

What was exact appearance and markings of the definitive “all red” paint scheme on von Richtofens aircraft? I seem to have seen various takes on it. Can anyone shed any light?

James
I think at this distance in time there may be no definitive answer to that question.

After due consideration of everything I’ve read and heard (and discounted) I’ve concluded that that Von Richtofen was flying Fokker Dr.I S/no 425/17 when he was killed.
Beyond that much else is only guess work.
As to colour I think the aircraft upper surfaces were painted a shade of red (exact shade unknown).
I personally doubt the under surfaces were red–more likely to have been sky blue as finished by Fokkers.
Unlike many ‘experts’ I cannot conclude the exact Methuen colour reference of aircraft from 85 year old black and white prints–if only I could.
I suppose I could make them up like Rodney Gerrard did.
Melv–your turn.
Andy

Looks like a forum trip to recover parts then.

Yeah Learning,
as long as we can recover his data plates we can rebuild the rest from new!!

Anyone got a supply of CAA approved airframe quality tweed?
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Pictures…

Wonderful Stuff Tim.
Thanks 🙂 🙂