In the early years of the war, Fokker fighters had reigned supreme for many months, then eclipsed by Albatros with their twin-gunned biplanes – a monopoly they enjoyed until the advent of the Fokker D.VII in 1918. Generally considered to be the best fighter aircraft of the war, the D.VII’s outstanding qualities were universally acknowledged by those who flew it and by those who fought against it. Powered by the reliable Mercedes D.IIIa engine, the new aeroplane with its thick high-lift wings and exceptional handling proved easy to fly even for average pilots. When later aircraft were powered with the superb BMW motor, the D.VII became even more deadly and its reputation soared. It was considered superior to virtually any other fighter type in the air in 1918.