Model, Static, Fokker D.VII, with Uncovered Wings

The D.VII’s thick, internally braced wing design and steel-tube fuselage pointed the way to future designs. Internal bracing replaced external bracing wires that added drag. The D.VII’s airfoil (wing cross section) and propeller gave it an unmatched ability to climb from below to surprise Allied pilots. Envious aviators called it “hanging on the prop.”