Fokker F.8

1927


PASSENGER	Virtual Aircraft Museum / Holland / Fokker

Designed to meet a KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) requirement for a larger aircraft than the F.VII single-engined series, the Fokker F.VIII flew in prototype form on 12 March 1927. While of similar general layout to its predecessors, the new aircraft had a wider fuselage capable of carrying 15 passengers and a crew of two. The nose contained a hinged baggage compartment, and the two 358kW Gnome-Rhone Jupiter VI engines were slung beneath the wings.

The prototype and six production F.VIIIs were delivered to KLM in 1927-28; another was delivered to the Hungarian airline MALERT in 1928, and Manfred Weiss in Budapest built two more for MALERT under licence.

The KLM aircraft were subsequently re-engined, various aircraft being powered by 515kW Wright R-1820 Cyclone or 373kW Pratt '& Whitney Wasp engines.

The only F.VIII to see service in military markings was the last Dutch production aircraft, sold by KLM to British Airways in 1936. It went to Sweden in 1939, and was subsequently donated to the Finnish air force, with whom it served in the Continuation War from 1941.

Specification

ENGINE	2 x Gnome-Rhone Jupiter VI radial piston engines, 358kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	5700 kg	12566 lb
Empty weight	3685 kg	8124 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	23.00 m	75 ft 6 in
Length	16.75 m	55 ft 11 in
Height	4.20 m	14 ft 9 in
Wing area	83.00 m²	893.40 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	200 km/h	124 mph
Cruise speed	170 km/h	106 mph
Ceiling	5500 m	18050 ft
Range	1045 km	649 miles

Comments

Barry, 30.10.2012 16:38

The F8 had a wider fuselage than earlier Fokker transports allowing a 2 + 1 seating arrangement. As noted KLM took delivery of some seven aircraft, those remaining in service were later transferred to their subsidiary in the Netherland East Indies. There was one model known as the F8A. This was the aircraft re-engined with Wright Whirlwinds, where the engine mountain was hung on the leading edge of the aircraft wing as opposed to be hung underneath in the traditional Fokker method.

Alan Blowers, e-mail, 31.01.2008 14:46

I am looking for confimation that it was a Fokker F VIII that my father (the Flight Engineer) crashed in a few miles from Gatwick in Tilgate Forest on the 11th November 1936. It was on the night mail run and they were trying to land at Croydon from Hamburg (I think)in zero visibility.
I have 2 very poor photographs but i can not seem to copy them to this comment.
Alan Blowers

Mikael �qvist, e-mail, 02.05.2007 16:21

What route net KLM use the Fokker 8 ?
Did KLM use it all the way to Batavia?
Thanks for your help
Mikael �qvist

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