Baron's plane
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No Classic Fighter's Airshow would be complete without an appearance by the Red Baron and this year three replica World War 1 Fokker triplanes made famous by the fighter ace will descend on Omaka Airfield over easter weekend.
A Fokker triplane has flown at Omaka every year since the 1999 fly in.
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre trustee Graham Orphan is keeping the role of the three aircraft close to his chest, but it is known that the three triplanes will be painted up in the colours of Jasta 11 squadron leader Manfred von Richthofen aka the Red Baron and two of his hand picked counterparts Eberhart Mohnike and Werner Steinhauser
The Red Baron, arguably the most distinguished fighter ace to grace the skies in the Great War, assumed control of Jasta 11 in January 1917 after his 16th confirmed kill.
The aircraft of Jasta 11 were easily identifiable in combat because they were painted predominantly red along with individual markings. Some of the Baron's own aircraft were painted entirely red.
The squadron went on to include many of Germany's top fighter aces who the Baron selected and trained.
He went on to achieve 80 victories before he was shot down and mortally wounded by ground units while engaged with a Sopwith Camel in April 1918.
Graham says one of the interesting facts about the Baron's family was their reputation as hunters, and their trophy collection of antlers etc.
After shooting his first plane down in September 1916 the Baron began commemorating those he had defeated with little silver cups he had made which included information like the date, serial number and type of aircraft.
Despite making only 20 of his 80 kills in a Fokker triplane, it is the aircraft he is most associated with.
Graham says a total of 320 Fokker triplanes were built and flown in World War 1 from September 1917 until the Great War's conclusion in 1918, which is not long when compared with the likes of Sopwith, which were built in the thousands.
"They were very manoeuverable. They weren't very fast and therefore all of their early battles were turning flights."
Ironically the very last Fokker triplane was destroyed in World War 2 in a Berlin museum by the RAF in a bombing raid, he says.
"Unfortunately there was a lot of great stuff destroyed in that raid."
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre trustee Graham Orphan says gold tickets are nearly sold out. Friday night's show will be unique so don't miss out, he says.
- The Marlborough Express
