The Fokker Universal was the first aircraft built in the United States that was based on the designs of Dutch-born Anthony Fokker, who had designed aircraft for Germany during World War I. About half of the 44 Universals that were built between 1926 and 1931 in the United States were used in Canada. Among the famous pilots who flew the Fokker Universal were Punch Dickins and Walter Gilbert.
Anthony Fokker established the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation at the Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, New Jersey. One of his first ventures for the new company was building other aircraft under license. In 1926, he formulated plans to create an original aircraft designed for utility and air transport. The design was spearheaded by Robert Noorduyn and based on conventional Fokker designs. The mixed-material construction featured a welded steel tube frame for the fuselage and tail surfaces that were covered in fabric as well as a large wing constructed of wood with a wingspan of 14.55 m, mounted above the fuselage. Although the overall design was quite "clean," all cables, horns and attachments were mounted externally, adding considerably to the drag.
Prototype of the US-developed Fokker Universal
When the Fokker Universal (known within Fokker as the Model 4) was first developed in 1925, it had a 149 kW (200 hp) Wright J-4 or a 164 kW (220 hp) J-5 engine. The later Standard Universal version was powered by a 246 kW (330 hp) Wright J-6-9 engine. Two gasoline tanks were mounted in the wings near the forward edge. As typical of the era, the pilot sat in an open cockpit forward of the wing’s leading edge. The enclosed cabin below and to the rear of the pilot held four to six passengers or could be fitted for cargo hauling. Cargo capacity was estimated to be approximately 427 kg (940 lb); fuel capacity was 280 L (78 US gal) or 213 kg (468 lb)
They were sold new at the factory in 1927 for $14,200. At a time when Fokker America was mostly producing local versions of aircraft designed in the Netherlands, the Universal reversed this situation by becoming an American-designed aircraft produced by the parent company as the Fokker F.XI (although Fokker F.XI and Universal were not identical).
Operational historyEdit
A Universal operated by the Aero Corporation of California.The airframe proved suitable as a seaplane outfitted with floats.
Powered by the newly developed, air-cooled Wright R-790 Whirlwind radial engine which proved to be reliable, the Universal became widely regarded as a good choice for small air carriers and operators. The rugged utility aircraft proved it could haul cargo or passengers and its unique shock absorber system made of bungee cords enabled it to land on bumpy and uneven landing strips. Configurations could be readily changed from landplane to seaplane equipped with floats or if fitted with skis, the Universal could be used on rough ice and snow surfaces. An order for 12 Universals was placed by Western Canada Airways when its owner, James Armstrong Richardson, Sr. judged that the Standard Universal was the best available transport for use in the northern regions of Canada.[1] Six more Universals (G-CAHE - CAHJ) were ordered by the Canadian Government for use in the Hudson Strait Expedition (1927–1928) to study ice formation and navigation in the Hudson Strait prior to the building of the port of Churchill, Manitoba.
While not specifically designed for long-distance flights, the Universal was suitable for pioneering work. Charles Lindbergh had wanted to fly a Universal on his transatlantic flight but officials at the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation who reviewed his request in 1926, thought that Lindbergh's plans were too risky. More concerned about the company's reputation rather than the pilot's well-being, they would not sell him an aircraft.
The Universal provided steady if unspectacular service with more than half of the Universals utilized for bush flying while more than a dozen United States, Canadian and foreign airlines flew it as a passenger/cargo transport. A further development, the Super Universal was larger and more refined with a fully enclosed cockpit. The follow-up design soon supplanted the Universal on the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation's production lines.
Universals continued to fly well into the 1930s but were primarily relegated to cargo work.
Surviving aircraftEdit
Fokker Standard Universal G-CAJD is also known as "The Ghost of Charron Lake". It was lost in a snow storm on 10 December 1931. After a 30-year search for the rare bush plane, it was discovered in 2005. A Western Canada Aviation Museum search team (the Fokker Aircraft Recovery Team, F.A.R.T.), using sophisticated side scan sonar technology, finally located the aircraft literally "parked" on the lake bottom. In July 2006, the Ghost's engine was returned to Winnipeg, along with several artifacts. In October, the underwater archaeology team returned to the recovery site and towed the tail section to shallower waters. A further expedition was undertaken in 2007 to recover more of the Fokker for future display at the museum. Larger and smaller components are presently in storage at the Western Canada Aviation Museum. A decision as to restoration or conservation of the recovered material has not been made at present.[2][3]
OperatorsEdit
One of the F.XI prototypes would later see service with Swiss airline Alpar; seen here in 1929.
Fokker Universal 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.73
Data from "Inspection Handbook Part 5" (PDF). Regulatory and Guidance Library. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 26 April 2018. "Fokker". Aerofiles. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
Binnie, N. "Site to Shelf: Recovery of a Historic Aircraft from Charron Lake, Manitoba." CCI (Canadian Conservation Institute) Newsletter 38 (English and French versions), p. 10-12, 2007.
Molson, K.M. Pioneering in Canadian Air Transport. Winnipeg: James Richardson & Sons, Ltd., 1974. ISBN0-919212-39-5.
Nevin, David. The Pathfinders (The Epic of Flight Series). Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1980. ISBN0-8094-3256-0.
Postma, Thijs. Fokker: Aircraft Builders to the World. London: Jane's, 1979. ISBN0-7106-0059-3.
Seagrave, Sterling. The Bush Pilots (The Epic of Flight Series). Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1983. ISBN0-8094-3312-5.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fokker Universal.
Fokker Universal
Alberta Aviation Museum
October 19, 2023
fokker, universal, first, aircraft, built, united, states, that, based, designs, dutch, born, anthony, fokker, designed, aircraft, germany, during, world, about, half, universals, that, were, built, between, 1926, 1931, united, states, were, used, canada, amon. The Fokker Universal was the first aircraft built in the United States that was based on the designs of Dutch born Anthony Fokker who had designed aircraft for Germany during World War I About half of the 44 Universals that were built between 1926 and 1931 in the United States were used in Canada Among the famous pilots who flew the Fokker Universal were Punch Dickins and Walter Gilbert UniversalA Canadian registered Fokker UniversalRole Airliner Utility aircraftManufacturer Fokker Aircraft Company Atlantic Aircraft Corporation Designer Robert B C NoorduynIntroduction 1926Produced 1926 1931Number built 44Developed into Fokker Super Universal Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Surviving aircraft 4 Operators 5 Specifications Fokker Universal 6 References 7 External linksDesign and development EditAnthony Fokker established the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation at the Teterboro Airport in Teterboro New Jersey One of his first ventures for the new company was building other aircraft under license In 1926 he formulated plans to create an original aircraft designed for utility and air transport The design was spearheaded by Robert Noorduyn and based on conventional Fokker designs The mixed material construction featured a welded steel tube frame for the fuselage and tail surfaces that were covered in fabric as well as a large wing constructed of wood with a wingspan of 14 55 m mounted above the fuselage Although the overall design was quite clean all cables horns and attachments were mounted externally adding considerably to the drag nbsp Prototype of the US developed Fokker UniversalWhen the Fokker Universal known within Fokker as the Model 4 was first developed in 1925 it had a 149 kW 200 hp Wright J 4 or a 164 kW 220 hp J 5 engine The later Standard Universal version was powered by a 246 kW 330 hp Wright J 6 9 engine Two gasoline tanks were mounted in the wings near the forward edge As typical of the era the pilot sat in an open cockpit forward of the wing s leading edge The enclosed cabin below and to the rear of the pilot held four to six passengers or could be fitted for cargo hauling Cargo capacity was estimated to be approximately 427 kg 940 lb fuel capacity was 280 L 78 US gal or 213 kg 468 lb They were sold new at the factory in 1927 for 14 200 At a time when Fokker America was mostly producing local versions of aircraft designed in the Netherlands the Universal reversed this situation by becoming an American designed aircraft produced by the parent company as the Fokker F XI although Fokker F XI and Universal were not identical Operational history Edit nbsp A Universal operated by the Aero Corporation of California nbsp The airframe proved suitable as a seaplane outfitted with floats Powered by the newly developed air cooled Wright R 790 Whirlwind radial engine which proved to be reliable the Universal became widely regarded as a good choice for small air carriers and operators The rugged utility aircraft proved it could haul cargo or passengers and its unique shock absorber system made of bungee cords enabled it to land on bumpy and uneven landing strips Configurations could be readily changed from landplane to seaplane equipped with floats or if fitted with skis the Universal could be used on rough ice and snow surfaces An order for 12 Universals was placed by Western Canada Airways when its owner James Armstrong Richardson Sr judged that the Standard Universal was the best available transport for use in the northern regions of Canada 1 Six more Universals G CAHE CAHJ were ordered by the Canadian Government for use in the Hudson Strait Expedition 1927 1928 to study ice formation and navigation in the Hudson Strait prior to the building of the port of Churchill Manitoba While not specifically designed for long distance flights the Universal was suitable for pioneering work Charles Lindbergh had wanted to fly a Universal on his transatlantic flight but officials at the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation who reviewed his request in 1926 thought that Lindbergh s plans were too risky More concerned about the company s reputation rather than the pilot s well being they would not sell him an aircraft The Universal provided steady if unspectacular service with more than half of the Universals utilized for bush flying while more than a dozen United States Canadian and foreign airlines flew it as a passenger cargo transport A further development the Super Universal was larger and more refined with a fully enclosed cockpit The follow up design soon supplanted the Universal on the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation s production lines Universals continued to fly well into the 1930s but were primarily relegated to cargo work Surviving aircraft EditFokker Standard Universal G CAJD is also known as The Ghost of Charron Lake It was lost in a snow storm on 10 December 1931 After a 30 year search for the rare bush plane it was discovered in 2005 A Western Canada Aviation Museum search team the Fokker Aircraft Recovery Team F A R T using sophisticated side scan sonar technology finally located the aircraft literally parked on the lake bottom In July 2006 the Ghost s engine was returned to Winnipeg along with several artifacts In October the underwater archaeology team returned to the recovery site and towed the tail section to shallower waters A further expedition was undertaken in 2007 to recover more of the Fokker for future display at the museum Larger and smaller components are presently in storage at the Western Canada Aviation Museum A decision as to restoration or conservation of the recovered material has not been made at present 2 3 Operators Edit nbsp One of the F XI prototypes would later see service with Swiss airline Alpar seen here in 1929 nbsp AustraliaAnsett Airways MacRobertson Miller Airlines nbsp CanadaCanadian Airways Canadian Colonial Airways Department of Marine and Fisheries now Fisheries and Oceans Canada Western Canada Airways nbsp CubaCuban Navy nbsp HondurasHonduran Air Force nbsp Fokker F XI from MALERT airline nbsp HungaryHungarian Air Force Fokker F XI nbsp United StatesNational Parks Airways Pacific Air Transport Pure Oil Standard Air LinesSpecifications Fokker Universal Edit nbsp Fokker Universal 3 view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No 73Data from Inspection Handbook Part 5 PDF Regulatory and Guidance Library Federal Aviation Administration Retrieved 26 April 2018 Fokker Aerofiles Retrieved 26 April 2018 General characteristicsCrew One Capacity 4 passengers or 940 lb 427 kg cargo Length 33 ft 3 in 10 13 m Wingspan 47 ft 9 in 14 56 m Height 8 ft 9 in 2 7 m Wing area 341 sq ft 31 68 m2 Empty weight 2 192 lb 996 kg Gross weight 4 000 lb 1 818 kg Powerplant 1 Wright J 5 radial engine 220 hp 164 kW Propellers Hamilton Standard fixed pitch metal propellerPerformance Maximum speed 118 mph 189 km h 103 kn Cruise speed 98 mph 158 km h 86 kn Range 500 mi 805 km 439 nmi Service ceiling 12 000 ft 3 658 m References EditNotes Molson 1974 p 20 The Ghost of Charron Lake prairiedogguide tripod com Retrieved 23 October 2010 The Ghost Of Charron Lake Fokker Standard Universal Archived 2011 01 05 at the Wayback Machine Western Canada Aviation Museum Retrieved 23 October 2010 BibliographyBinnie N Site to Shelf Recovery of a Historic Aircraft from Charron Lake Manitoba CCI Canadian Conservation Institute Newsletter 38 English and French versions p 10 12 2007 Dierikx Marc Fokker A Transatlantic Biography Washington DC Smithsonian Institution Press 1997 ISBN 1 56098 735 9 Molson K M Pioneering in Canadian Air Transport Winnipeg James Richardson amp Sons Ltd 1974 ISBN 0 919212 39 5 Nevin David The Pathfinders The Epic of Flight Series Alexandria Virginia Time Life Books 1980 ISBN 0 8094 3256 0 Postma Thijs Fokker Aircraft Builders to the World London Jane s 1979 ISBN 0 7106 0059 3 Seagrave Sterling The Bush Pilots The Epic of Flight Series Alexandria Virginia Time Life Books 1983 ISBN 0 8094 3312 5 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fokker Universal Fokker Universal Fokker Universal NC3317 Alberta Aviation Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fokker Universal amp oldid 1152413860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
