The Fokker F.IX was an airliner developed in the Netherlands in the late 1920s, intended to provide KLM with an aircraft suitable for regular services to the Dutch East Indies. When the onset of the Great Depression forced the postponement of those plans, the market for this aircraft disappeared as well, although it did see military service in Czechoslovakia as a bomber.
In the late 1920s, the Dutch airline KLM set out to develop commercial air services between Amsterdam and the Netherlands East Indies, and while the Fokker F.VII allowed it to operate an air mail service, a larger aircraft was wanted for passenger services. To meet this requirement, Fokker designed the F.IX, Fokker's largest three-engined monoplane, with KLM placing an order for Fokker's new design on 5 September 1928.[1] The F.IX followed Fokker's normal layout for commercial aircraft, and was a high-wing cantilevermonoplane with a fixed tailskid undercarriage. The wings were made of wood, and the fuselage was welded steel tube with a fabric covering.[1] The two pilots sat side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit, while the first aircraft's passenger cabin had seats for up to 18 passengers when operating on European services, although only four–six passengers would be carried on the Far-East route.[2][3] The first example, registration PH-AGA, powered by three Gnome-Rhône Jupiterradial engines rated at 480–500 hp (360–370 kW), made its maiden flight on 26 August 1929.[1]
A second example, registration PH-AFK, was ordered by KLM in May 1930. It had a longer nose compared with the first example, and a larger cabin which allowed up to 20 passengers to be carried. PH-AFK was exhibited at the 1930 Paris Air Show where it won the Grand Prix de Comfort et d'Elegance d'Avions de Transport,[4] the "beauty prize" as voted by the public.
Group of Avia F.IX bombers
Czech aircraft manufacturer Avia purchased a licence to produce the type in order to create a bomber for the Czechoslovakian Air Force, when it was decided that the Fokker F.VII that Avia was already producing under licence was too small for this role. By 1932, 12 were in service as the F.39.[citation needed]Yugoslavia also purchased two aircraft, as well as a licence to produce the type domestically, although this did not occur. The F.39s differed from their civil counterparts not only by the addition of bomb racks, but also with a defensive machine gun being fitted to either a ventral "step" or a turret. Avia also built two examples as airliners for Czechoslovakian Airlines as the F.IX D (Dopravni - "transport"). One of these survived into World War II, when it was impressed into Luftwaffe service (as TF+BO).[5]
A further proposed military development by Avia, the twin-engine F.139, never left the drawing board.
Operational history
Even though KLM directors had been talking in terms of ten or more aircraft in 1929, the worsening economic climate resulted in only two being purchased. Due to the logistics implications of stocking spare parts for only two aircraft, these were confined to European routes and the two F.IXs each made only one flight to the Indies. One (registration PH-AFK) was written off in a crash on 4 August 1931, and the other (De Adelaar, PH-AGA) was retired in 1936, and was subsequently acquired by clandestine means to serve as a bomber in the Spanish Republican Air Force during the civil war.[6]
On August 4, 1931 a KLM F.IX crashed on takeoff from Waalhaven Airport due to engine failure; all 15 passengers and crew survived, but the aircraft was written off.[7]
Howson, Gerald (August–November 1980). "Fokker's Trimotors Go to War". Air Enthusiast. No. 13. pp. 43–49. ISSN 0143-5450.
Stroud, John (1966). European Transport Aircraft since 1910. London: Putnam.
Stroud, John (November 1985). "Wings of Peace". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 13, no. 11. pp. 600–605. ISSN 0143-7240.
Taylor, John W. R., and Jean Alexander.Combat Aircraft of the World. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN0-71810-564-8.
Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989.
Weale, Elke. Combat Aircraft of World War II. Simsbury, Connecticut: Bracken Books, 1985.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fokker F.IX.
Fokker, a Living History
Dutch Aviation
March 29, 2023
fokker, airliner, developed, netherlands, late, 1920s, intended, provide, with, aircraft, suitable, regular, services, dutch, east, indies, when, onset, great, depression, forced, postponement, those, plans, market, this, aircraft, disappeared, well, although,. The Fokker F IX was an airliner developed in the Netherlands in the late 1920s intended to provide KLM with an aircraft suitable for regular services to the Dutch East Indies When the onset of the Great Depression forced the postponement of those plans the market for this aircraft disappeared as well although it did see military service in Czechoslovakia as a bomber F IXRole AirlinerManufacturer FokkerAvia under licence First flight 23 August 1929Primary users Czechoslovakian Air ForceKLMCSAZNDHNumber built 18 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 3 1 Fokker 3 2 Avia 4 Operators 5 Accidents and incidents 6 Specifications Fokker F IX 7 Notes 7 1 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development EditIn the late 1920s the Dutch airline KLM set out to develop commercial air services between Amsterdam and the Netherlands East Indies and while the Fokker F VII allowed it to operate an air mail service a larger aircraft was wanted for passenger services To meet this requirement Fokker designed the F IX Fokker s largest three engined monoplane with KLM placing an order for Fokker s new design on 5 September 1928 1 The F IX followed Fokker s normal layout for commercial aircraft and was a high wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailskid undercarriage The wings were made of wood and the fuselage was welded steel tube with a fabric covering 1 The two pilots sat side by side in an enclosed cockpit while the first aircraft s passenger cabin had seats for up to 18 passengers when operating on European services although only four six passengers would be carried on the Far East route 2 3 The first example registration PH AGA powered by three Gnome Rhone Jupiter radial engines rated at 480 500 hp 360 370 kW made its maiden flight on 26 August 1929 1 A second example registration PH AFK was ordered by KLM in May 1930 It had a longer nose compared with the first example and a larger cabin which allowed up to 20 passengers to be carried PH AFK was exhibited at the 1930 Paris Air Show where it won the Grand Prix de Comfort et d Elegance d Avions de Transport 4 the beauty prize as voted by the public Group of Avia F IX bombers Czech aircraft manufacturer Avia purchased a licence to produce the type in order to create a bomber for the Czechoslovakian Air Force when it was decided that the Fokker F VII that Avia was already producing under licence was too small for this role By 1932 12 were in service as the F 39 citation needed Yugoslavia also purchased two aircraft as well as a licence to produce the type domestically although this did not occur The F 39s differed from their civil counterparts not only by the addition of bomb racks but also with a defensive machine gun being fitted to either a ventral step or a turret Avia also built two examples as airliners for Czechoslovakian Airlines as the F IX D Dopravni transport One of these survived into World War II when it was impressed into Luftwaffe service as TF BO 5 A further proposed military development by Avia the twin engine F 139 never left the drawing board Operational history EditEven though KLM directors had been talking in terms of ten or more aircraft in 1929 the worsening economic climate resulted in only two being purchased Due to the logistics implications of stocking spare parts for only two aircraft these were confined to European routes and the two F IXs each made only one flight to the Indies One registration PH AFK was written off in a crash on 4 August 1931 and the other De Adelaar PH AGA was retired in 1936 and was subsequently acquired by clandestine means to serve as a bomber in the Spanish Republican Air Force during the civil war 6 Variants EditFokker Edit F IX Three engined passenger airliner for KLM Avia Edit F 39 Three engined bomber aircraft for the Czechoslovakian Air Force F 139 Proposed twin engined version of the F 39 Not built F IX D Three engined passenger airliner for Czechoslovakian Airlines Operators Edit Independent State of CroatiaZrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Drzave Hrvatske CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakian Airlines operated two aircraft Czechoslovakian Air Force GermanyLuftwaffe operated one captured aircraft NetherlandsKLM operated two aircraft SpainSpanish Republican Air Force Kingdom of YugoslaviaYugoslav Royal Air ForceAccidents and incidents EditOn August 4 1931 a KLM F IX crashed on takeoff from Waalhaven Airport due to engine failure all 15 passengers and crew survived but the aircraft was written off 7 Specifications Fokker F IX EditGeneral characteristics Crew two pilot and co pilot Capacity 20 passengers Length 19 31 m 63 ft 6 75 in Wingspan 27 16 m 89 ft 0 5 in Height 4 572 m 15 ft 8 75 in Empty weight 5 450 kg 12 015 lb Max takeoff weight 9 000 kg 19 842 lb Powerplant 3 Gnome Rhone 9A Jupiter 9 cyl air cooled radial piston engines 360 kW 480 hp eachPerformance Maximum speed 210 km h 130 mph 110 kn Cruise speed 172 km h 107 mph 93 kn Range 1 150 km 710 mi 620 nmi Notes Edit a b c Stroud 1985 p 601 Stroud 1985 pp 601 602 Stroud 1966 p 483 Stroud 1985 p 602 Taylor 1989 p 88 Taylor and Alexander 1969 pp 68 69 Accident description for PH AFK at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on 2014 7 24 Bibliography Edit Howson Gerald August November 1980 Fokker s Trimotors Go to War Air Enthusiast No 13 pp 43 49 ISSN 0143 5450 Stroud John 1966 European Transport Aircraft since 1910 London Putnam Stroud John November 1985 Wings of Peace Aeroplane Monthly Vol 13 no 11 pp 600 605 ISSN 0143 7240 Taylor John W R and Jean Alexander Combat Aircraft of the World New York G P Putnam s Sons 1969 ISBN 0 71810 564 8 Taylor Michael J H Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions 1989 Weale Elke Combat Aircraft of World War II Simsbury Connecticut Bracken Books 1985 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fokker F IX Fokker a Living History Dutch Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fokker F IX amp oldid 1129741868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
