Fokker D.XVI (English)

D.XVI

The Fokker D.XVI

Following a request from the LVA, Fokker developed the D.XVI, a one-and-a-half-decker aircraft with a 460 hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar 14-cylinder radial engine in two banks of seven cylinders.
The prototype made its first flight in July 1929.
The AS Jaguar engine was equipped with a so-called Townend ring, which reduced air resistance and provided better air cooling of the engine.
The D.XVI fighter was equipped with 2 Vickers M20 machine guns, which were later replaced by FN Brownings.

Of the 21 aircraft built, 16 went to the LVA, 14 aircraft were provided with a registration, the other two were replacement aircraft for crashed D.XVIs.
Four D.XVIs went to the Hungarian Air Force, one to Italy for a demonstration. Later the same aircraft went to China, where it was confiscated by Japan in 1931 during the Sino-Japanese War.
The Hungarian D.XVIs were equipped with Bristol Jupiter radial engines.
One D.XVI was test flown with a 590 hp Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIIa engine with a three-bladed propeller.
No armament was mounted on this aircraft and the synchronization system did not function due to the three-bladed propeller.
Another aircraft was fitted with a 650 hp Curtiss Conquerror V1570 engine as a trial; this version would possibly go to the ML-KNIL.
On March 20, 1931, this aircraft crashed at Schiphol and was not further developed.

During the operational life of the D.XVI with the LVA, changes were made to the landing gear.

The D.XVI was in service with the LVA from 1929 to 1939.

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FOKKER D.XVI 1929 To replace the outdated D.VII fighter aircraft, which were used by the Aviation Department at Soesterberg, the feisty D.XVI one-and-a-half-deck aircraft was developed in 1929/30. Equipped with a 460 hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar. During the testing program, some improvements were made, such as a Townend ring around the engine and an extended exhaust pipe along the fuselage. Fifteen D.XVI were delivered to the LVA, with registration numbers 275 - 289. On June 8, 1933, First Lieutenant Jhr. HJM van Asch van Wijk set an altitude record of 9587 m in a D.XVI. An aircraft with a Jaguar engine was used in Italy for evaluation, but was not purchased by the Reggia Aeronautica. The aircraft was later sent to China, where it was tested and purchased by the Chinese army in Hankow. Four D.XVIs, equipped with Gnome Rhone Jupiter radial engines were delivered to Hungary (reg. PH-AGS-AGV). This country was not allowed to use military aircraft; therefore these aircraft were used as training and mail aircraft under civil registration. The first flight with these Hungarian machines took place at Schiphol on 12 March 1930. A version with a water-cooled Curtiss Conqueror engine (mil.reg. F-32) with a modified undercarriage was developed for the KNIL, but no order for this type followed. A total of 21 D.XVI were built in Amsterdam.
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D.XVI prototype with cn 5167 at Schiphol. This aircraft would later receive an LVA registration and be part of the 16 aircraft delivered to the LVA.
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02

D.XVI prototype showing the 14-cylinder AS Jaguar engine.
Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar
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cn 5167 as 275 for the LVA, with long exhaust along the fuselage and the first version of the landing gear.
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3.1

In 1930 and 1931 the D.XVI scouts were delivered and this 275 was the first at the LVA. Characteristics were among others the Townend ring and the extra long exhaust that went over the registration.
Townend ring
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Production of the D.XVI in the Fokker factory in Amsterdam-Noord.
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06

The PH-AGS with cn 5215 with Bristol Jupiter engine, destined for Hungary.
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07

D.XVI cn 5215 as HA-AGS for Hungary.
Bristol Jupiter motor
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The PH-AGT cn 5216 in the Fokker hangar at Schiphol.
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09

The PH-AGU cn 5217 with running Jupiter engine.
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Side view of the PH-AGU cn 5217.
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11

The Fokker D.XVI F-32 cn 5240 with the 650 hp Curtiss Conqueror V1570 engine. The F-32 registration numbers were used on this prototype for LA-KNIL. It would not come to an order, which was remarkable given the qualities of the aircraft. The landing gear had been modified in the meantime, including the removal of the transverse axle between the wheels. The F-32 crashed on 20 March 1931 at Schiphol. It was flown at the time by Off.Vl. D. Wulfers of the LVA
Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror
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Article from the Aviation Safety Network database about the D.XVI / F-32 crash.
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13

The Italian registered 157 with cn 5245. The exhaust is shortened and no longer runs along the entire fuselage. The landing gear is also still from the first version.
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14

Once again the Italian 157 from the side.
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Crash of the LVA D.XVI 276 cn 5271 on 15 January 1932.
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The sturdy 277 cn 5272 from the LVA.
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The 277 at the front of the flightline of these 8 D.XVI's.
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The 277 cn 5272 with the Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIIa engine of 590 hp and three-bladed propeller as a test. The engine is surrounded by a NACA cowling to improve the aerodynamics of aircraft with radial engines. The cowling was developed by the American National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the predecessor of NASA.
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Close-up of the NACA hood of the 277.
NACA cowling
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The three-bladed propeller of the Panther engine is clearly visible here.
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21

The 277 at Soesterberg.
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22

Right side view of the 277.
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22.01

The LVA numbers ranged from 275 to 289 due to some heavy damage and the merging of some fighters. Here again the 277 but with the orange triangle and tail from the mobilization period 1939-1940. In front of the engine this D.XVI has the NACA hood for streamlining. This 277 was badly damaged by a tornado on July 17, 1933, together with a D.VII (266) and a CI (543)
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22.1

Of the twenty-one D.XVI fighters built from 1929 onwards, one goes to Italy, four to Hungary and sixteen to the LVA. At Soesterberg, the 277 of the LVA is pictured, together with Officer-Pilot Jhr. G. Sandberg, who would also fly in for Fokker.
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A proud flyer for the 278 with cn 5273.
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23.1

The 279 of the LVA with extra long exhaust and Townend ring at Soesterberg airport.
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Major maintenance at Soesterberg airfield in one of the two newest hangars on the 279 of the LVA. This fighter was also equipped with a Townend ring.
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The 281 with cn 5276 in front of the LVA hangars at Schiphol.
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24.1

The 281 of LVA on the shooting range of Soesterberg airfield. This fighter also had a Townend ring mounted for the engine.
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At the 281 of the LVA is pilot Van Weerden Poelman, also known for the first KLM flight Amsterdam-Batavia in 1924.
Amsterdam-Batavia
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The 283 with cn 5278.
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25.1

The 287 of LVA with extra long exhaust and Townend Ring at Soesterberg airport.
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26

Three different engines on the D.XVI, on the left the Italian one with the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar, in the middle the Hungarian destined D.XVI with a Bristol Jupiter and on the right the F-32 registered D.XVI with the Curtiss Conquerror.
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27

The D.XVI destined for China in China with registration M-302 and cn 5245, the D.XVI, which was also demonstrated in Italy.
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28

In the foreground a flightline of D.XVI's in 1936 at Soesterberg.
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29

Seven D.XVIs in the Fokker hangar at Schiphol.
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30

Two fuselage remains of what were once complete D.XVIs.
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That the D.XVI was an intermediate product as a fighter is evident from the short period in which it was in service: from 1929 to 1939. This 278 was equipped with the Townend ring and extra long exhaust and even a three-bladed propeller for a while. The latter prevented the use of the synchroniser, so the two-bladed version was installed again. During the mobilisation period, the orange designation was also applied.
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