AW FK 01 QUADRUPLANE

Alex Whittaker admires Tim Hooper’s funky four-winged WWI scout

- Alex Whittaker

The FK 10 two-seat quadruplane was designed in 1916 at the height of WWI. Although as a project it was short-lived, and never went into full production, nevertheless it did explore some interesting design concepts. For example, besides the obviously generous wing area, the FK 10 also sported an all-moving tailplane. It was penned by Frederick Koolhoven, then Chief Designer at Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. At the time multi-planes were fashionable. Indeed, the great Tommy Sopwith had already brought forth his own innovative Triplane. Of course, it is instructive to note that whereas the British were adding wings, Anton Fokker and the Axis powers were deleting them. The prototype FK 9 first flew in 1916. It was powered by a 110 hp Clerget 9Z engine. The RFC placed an order for 50 machines, which were designated the FK 10. The complete order was never fulfilled because the FK 10 proved inferior to the Sopwith Triplane.

In all only nine were built and the type never saw operational service. In truth the FK 10 Quadruplane was a blind alley in British aeronautic design, but impressively off-beat.

THE MODEL

My RCM&E colleague, Tim Hooper scratch-built his own version to 1/4 scale. Now, between you and I, Tim makes an excellent job of anything he turns his hand to, and this WWI beauty is no exception. She has wingspan of 80” and weighs 22lbs. Tim has chosen electric power for his model. She is surprisingly tall, at about 33”. Her wing area is an expansive 21 square feet. Tim told me that she is spectacularly overpowered if you chose not to fly her in a scale fashion! She uses five digital servos and has a complex ‘redundant’ control system, which separates radio control from the power requirements.

PLAN