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'''Fokker''' was a ] ] ] named after its founder, ]. '''Fokker''' was a ] ] ] named after its founder, ].


== History == == History ==
]]The company was founded on ], ] by ] ] (]–]), one of the world's early ] pioneers. At age 20, he had built his first plane, the ''Spin'' (Spider), the first Dutch-built plane to fly in his home country. In ], he founded his first own company, ''Fokker Aeroplanbau'' in ], ], later moving to ]. The company was founded on ], ] by ] ] (]–]), one of the world's early ] pioneers. At age 20, he had built his first plane, the ''Spin'' (Spider), the first Dutch-built plane to fly in his home country. In ], he founded his first own company, ''Fokker Aeroplanbau'' in ], ], later moving to ].


There, Fokker built planes for the ] ] during ], forced onto ] as a partner by the German ]. He gained fame with his planes ] (triplane) and ], which used a mechanism that let pilots use machine guns on their planes without shredding their propellers (using ]). There, Fokker built planes for the ] ] during ], forced onto ] as a partner by the German ]. He gained fame with his planes ] (triplane) and ], which used a mechanism that let pilots use machine guns on their planes without shredding their propellers (using ]).


In ], Fokker separated from ], returned to the Netherlands and founded his own company. He did not return home empty-handed: Fokker managed to smuggle an entire train's worth of D.VII and C.I military planes and spare parts across the German-Dutch border. This initial stock enabled him to quickly set up shop. In ], Fokker separated from ], returned to the Netherlands and founded his own company. He does not return home empty-handed: Fokker manages to smuggle an entire train's worth of D.VII and C.I military planes and spare parts across the German-Dutch border. This initial stock enables him to quickly set up shop.


After his company's relocation, its main success would lie with commercial, civilian airplanes rather than military ones, although Fokker would continue to design and build those, predominantly for the Dutch air force. A notable exception was the ] air force, which was largely equipped with ], ] and ] aircraft. After his company's relocation, its main success would lie with commercial, civilian airplanes rather than military ones, although Fokker would continue to design and build those, predominantly for the Dutch air force. A notable exception was the ] air force, which was largely equipped with ], ] and ] aircraft.

]


In the ], Fokker's biggest success was the F.VIIa/3m trimotor passenger aircraft, which dominated the ]an market until the arrival of the all-metal ] and ] aircraft in the mid-]. In the ], Fokker's biggest success was the F.VIIa/3m trimotor passenger aircraft, which dominated the ]an market until the arrival of the all-metal ] and ] aircraft in the mid-].
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In ], ], Anthony Fokker died in the ], where the American branch of his company was very successful. In ], ], Anthony Fokker died in the ], where the American branch of his company was very successful.


During ], the Fokker factories in the Netherlands, which had been taken over by the German occupying forces to produce parts for the German war effort, were completely destroyed. A new factory was built next to ] Airport near Amsterdam, in ]. There, a number of military planes were built under license, among which was ]'s ]. A second production and maintenance facility was established in ]. The Fokker factories in the Netherlands were completely destroyed during ], and a new factory was built next to ] Airport near Amsterdam, in ]. There, a number of military planes were built under license, among which was ]'s ]. A second production and maintenance facility was established at Woensdrecht.


In ], the ] "Friendship" was introduced, which became the world's best selling ] airliner (selling almost 800 from 1958 to ]). The F-27 was followed by the ] "Fellowship", the ], the ] and the ]. Both an F-27 and later an F-28 served with the Dutch Royal Flight, ] himself being a pilot. In ], the ] "Friendship" was introduced, which became the world's best selling ] airliner (selling almost 800 from 1958 to ]). The F-27 was followed by the ] "Fellowship", the ], the ] and the ]. Both an F-27 and later an F-28 served with the Dutch Royal Flight, ] himself being a pilot.
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==Famous Fokkers== ==Famous Fokkers==
* The introduction of the ] into the German air force in ] led to the first ] * The introduction of the ] into the German air force in ] leads to the first ]
* ], the "Red Baron", flew a ] ] (]–]) * ], the "Red Baron", flew a ] ] (]–])
* The introduction of the ] into the German air force in ] led to a second Fokker Scourge * The introduction of the ] into the German air force in ] leads to a second ]
* ], the first woman to fly across the Atlantic (from the US to the small ] town of ]) did so in ] in a Fokker F.VII * ], the first woman to fly across the Atlantic (from the US to the small ] town of ]) did so in ] in a Fokker F.VII
* The same year, ] completed the first trans-Pacific flight in another F.VII * The same year, ] completed the first trans-Pacific flight in another F.VII
* The ] "Machtrainer" is the first jet trainer aircraft in the world specifically designed and built to that end (]) * The ] "Machtrainer" is the first jet fighter training aircraft in the world specifically designed and built to that end (])
* The ] "Friendship" is the world's best-selling turboprop airliner (]–])


==Planes designed and/or built by Fokker== ==Planes designed and/or built by Fokker==
===Fokker Europe=== * ]
* ] ''] biplane'' * ]
* ] ''reconnaissance biplane'' * ]
* ] ''reconnaissance biplane'' * ]
⚫ * ]

* ]

* ] ''single-seat biplane fighter'' * ]
* ] (E.V) ''single-seat monoplane fighter'' * ]
* ] ''single-seat biplane fighter'' * ]
* ] ''single-seat biplane fighter'' * ]
* ] ''single-seat monoplane fighter'' * ]
* ] ''single-seat monoplane fighter'' * ] "Friendship"
* ] "Alliance" ''single-seat jet fighter'' * ] "Fellowship"
⚫ * ]


* ] ''single-seat triplane fighter''


* ] ''single-seat monoplane fighter''
* ] ''single-seat monoplane fighter''
* ] ''single-seat monoplane fighter''
* ] (D.VIII) ''single-seat monoplane fighter''


* ] ''monoplane prop airliner''
* ] ''monoplane prop airliner with one or three engines''
* ] ''monoplane prop airliner''
* ] "Friendship" ''turboprop airliner''
* ] "Fellowship" ''jet airliner''
* ] ''monoplane prop airliner''
* ] ''turboprop airliner''
* ] ''turboprop airliner/cargo plane''
* ] ''jet airliner''
* ] ''jet airliner''


* ] ''heavy fighter/bomber''


* ] ''biplane prop training aircraft''
* ] "Instructor" ''prop training aircraft''
* ] "Machtrainer" ''jet training aircraft''


⚫ * ] ''bomber''
* ] ''bomber floatplane''

===Fokker America (Atlantic-Fokker)===
* ] ''two-seat monoplane fighter''


⚫ * ] ''light bomber''


* ] ''airliner''
* ] ''airliner''


== External links == == External links ==
*, the company of which Fokker now is part ()
* *



{{airlistbox}} {{airlistbox}}


Revision as of 20:33, 6 December 2004

Fokker 100 of British Midland Airways

Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker.

History

The company was founded on July 21, 1919 by Dutchman Anthony Fokker (1890–1939), one of the world's early aviation pioneers. At age 20, he had built his first plane, the Spin (Spider), the first Dutch-built plane to fly in his home country. In 1912, he founded his first own company, Fokker Aeroplanbau in Berlin, Germany, later moving to Schwerin.

There, Fokker built planes for the German army during World War I, forced onto Hugo Junkers as a partner by the German government. He gained fame with his planes Fokker Dr.I (triplane) and Fokker D.VII, which used a mechanism that let pilots use machine guns on their planes without shredding their propellers (using interrupter gear).

In 1919, Fokker separated from Junkers, returned to the Netherlands and founded his own company. He does not return home empty-handed: Fokker manages to smuggle an entire train's worth of D.VII and C.I military planes and spare parts across the German-Dutch border. This initial stock enables him to quickly set up shop.

After his company's relocation, its main success would lie with commercial, civilian airplanes rather than military ones, although Fokker would continue to design and build those, predominantly for the Dutch air force. A notable exception was the Finnish air force, which was largely equipped with C.V, C.X and D.XXI aircraft.

Fokker 70 of KLM taxiing after landing

In the Twenties, Fokker's biggest success was the F.VIIa/3m trimotor passenger aircraft, which dominated the European market until the arrival of the all-metal American and German aircraft in the mid-Thirties.

In December, 1939, Anthony Fokker died in the United States, where the American branch of his company was very successful.

The Fokker factories in the Netherlands were completely destroyed during World War II, and a new factory was built next to Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, in 1951. There, a number of military planes were built under license, among which was Lockheed's F-104 Starfighter. A second production and maintenance facility was established at Woensdrecht.

In 1958, the Fokker F-27 "Friendship" was introduced, which became the world's best selling turboprop airliner (selling almost 800 from 1958 to 1986). The F-27 was followed by the Fokker F-28 "Fellowship", the Fokker F50, the Fokker F70 and the Fokker F100. Both an F-27 and later an F-28 served with the Dutch Royal Flight, Prince Bernhard himself being a pilot.

In 1969, the Fokker company agreed to an alliance with Bremen-based Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (representing ERNO) under control of a transnational holding company. They collaborated on an unsuccessful regional jetliner, the VFW-614. The European Space Agency ESA in June 1974 named a consortium headed by ERNO-VFW-Fokker GmbH to build pressurized modules for Spacelab.

In 1996 the Fokker company was declared bankrupt, but some parts of the company survived. The space division became an independent company currently known as Dutch Space. Those parts of the company that manufactured parts of planes and carried out maintenance and repair work were taken over by Stork N.V.; it is now known as Stork Aerospace Group. Stork Fokker exists to sustain remarketing of the company's existing aircraft.

Famous Fokkers

Planes designed and/or built by Fokker

External links

Aviation lists
General
Military
Accidents / incidents
Records
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