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Netherlands' Fokker D.XXI fighter1,2
Fokker D.XXI:
Fokker D.XXI:
Fokker D.XXI:
Design
In 1935 Fokker launched the D.XXI project.1
It had a composite airframe and cover.1 The landing gear was fixed.1 The D.XXI had a low wing.1
The Fokker D.XXI was very maneouverable.1
Prototype
The D.XXI prototype flew on March 27, 1936.1,2 It had a Bristol Mercury VI-S radial engine (645 HP).1,2 The prototype showed excellent abilities but there was a lack of official interest for fighters.1
Production
An order for 36 D.XXIs was placed in the summer of 1937.1
- Fokker: 462
- Danish Royal Army Aircraft Factory: 102
- VL (Finnish State Factory): 902
- Total: 1462
Finland
In 1937 Finland ordered seven production models and an agreement was made to allow the Finns to license built the D.XXI.1
The State Aircraft Factory constructed 93 fighters during 1938 to 1944.1
The first 38 had Bristol engines.1 The next 50 had American Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior radial engines (836 HP).1 The last five had Bristol Pegasus engines.1
Denmark
Denmark constructed ten aircraft under license.1
Variants
Usage
Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands used the Fokker D.XXI.2
German Invasion
When Germany invaded, there were only 32 D.XXIs available.1 After three days they had run out of ammunition.2
On May 10, 1940, a group of D.XXIs shot down 38 out of 55 Junkers Ju 52s that were crossing the Dutch border.1
Finland
The Finnish air force had over 100 D.XXIs.1 The D.XXIs were used in the Winter War and the Continuation War.2 The last D.XXI was retired in 1951.2
| Fokker D.XXI1,2 | Fokker D.XXI (Mercury engine)2 | Fokker D.XXI (Twin Wasp engine)2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,2 | ||
| Crew | 11,2 | ||
| Engine (Type) | Bristol Mercury VIII1 | Bristol Mercury VII or VIII2 | Pratt & Whitney R-1535-SB4-C/G Twin Wasp Junior2 |
| Cylinders | Radial 91 | Radial 92 | Radial 142 |
| Cooling | Air1 | ||
| Net HP | 7601 | 8302 | 8252 |
| Propeller blades | 32 | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 36' 1"1 11 m1 |
36' 1"2 11 m2 |
|
| Length | 26' 11"1 8.2 m1 |
26' 11"2 8.2 m2 |
26' 3"2 8 m2 |
| Height | 9' 8"1 2.95 m1 |
9' 8"2 2.95 m2 |
|
| Wing area | |||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 3,197 lb2 1,450 kg2 |
3,380 lb2 1,533 kg2 |
|
| Loaded | 4,519 lb2 2,050 kg2 |
4,820 lb2 2,186 kg2 |
|
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 9,000' / 2,743 m |
272 mph2 438 kph2 |
||
| Speed @ 14,540' / 4,420 m |
286 mph1 460 kph1 |
||
| Speed @ 16,730' / 6,000 m |
286 mph2 460 kph2 |
||
| Cruising speed | |||
| Endurance | |||
| Climb | |||
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
3.5 minutes2 | 4.5 minutes2 | |
| Service ceiling | 36,100'1 11,000 m1 |
33,135'2 10,100 m2 |
32,000'2 9,754 m2 |
| Range | 590 miles1 950 km1 |
578 miles2 930 km2 |
|
| Armament | 4: MG1 | ||
| Dutch | 4: 7.9 mm MG2 | ||
| Finnish | 4: 7.7 mm MG2 | ||
| Danish | 2: 7.9 mm MG2 2: 20 mm2 |
Sources:
- Complete Book of World War II Combat Aircraft, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, Pierluigi Pinto, 1988
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
