Russian Fokkers

Russian Fokkers 4

In 1923, the Soviet Union purchased sixty Fokker C.IVs from the Netherlands. Their construction numbers were 2301 through 2360. They were designated C.IV Prima in Russia and had a long career, with the last one being retired in 1934. Although purchased as reconnaissance and light bombers, over the years an increasing number of C.IV Primas were transferred to the civil air fleet to perform other roles.

Training aircraft
In 1924, shortly after being received by the Red Air Force, eight C.IV Primas were assigned to the Higher Flying School in Moscow (also known as the 3rd Military Pilot School). Their armament was removed, the red stars disappeared from the wings, and a large white number was painted on the fuselage: 20 through 27. The construction numbers of these C.IVs are unknown.

Postal plane
In 1928, Dobrolet (the forerunner of Aeroflot) launched an experimental mail route from Moscow to Irkutsk. The route was 4,700 km long and divided into six segments, three of which had to be flown at night. Five C.IV Primas, temporarily loaned to Dobrolet by the Red Air Force, were allowed to test this route in 1928. This went well. In 1929, Dobrolet received 23 C.IV Primas from the air force for mail transport. They were given the civil registrations CCCP-150 through CCCP-172.
The mail planes were equipped with landing lights, navigation lights, and cockpit lighting, all powered by a wind generator and an auxiliary battery. The rear seat was converted into a cargo hold. It could carry 775 kg of mail, or 17 full mail bags.

Photo plane
On June 7, 1928, two Red Air Force C.IVs were transferred to Dobrolet for aerial cartography. A third C.IV was added later. The registration numbers of these aircraft were:
CCCP-174 c/n 2305
CCCP-173 c/n 2313
CCCP-167 c/n 2332 (originally a mail plane, see above)
They were given a camera installation on the floor of the rear seat.

The photographic and mail planes were stripped of their military equipment. The Liberty engine was replaced by an M-5, a Russian copy of the Liberty but with metric dimensions and tolerances (converted from inches to centimeters).

Click on the photo to enlarge the photo

02

Training aircraft of the Higher Flying School, Fokker C.IV Prima on skis, used as a trainer at the Higher Flying School. Other than the number 20 on the side, this aircraft bears no other markings. Moscow Central Airport, then also known as Trotsky Airport. Winter 1924.
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03

The same plane, now backwards.
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05

Number 23, a Fokker C.IV Prima from the Higher Flying School. The pilot who caused this accident was named Safonov. Moscow Central Airport, also known as Trotsky Airport. April 31, 1924.
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06

The same.
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08

Collision between a De Havilland DH-4 and a Fokker C.IV. The C.IV clearly suffered much less damage. Moscow Central Airport, also known as Trotsky Airport. August 5, 1924.
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09

The same.
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07

This C.IV Prima, number 24, also suffered a landing gear failure at Trotsky airfield on October 2, 1924.
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10

This Fokker C.IV Prima, number 27 of the Higher Flying School, collided with a Morane-Saulnier. Little remains of the latter. Moscow Central Airport, also known as Trotsky Airport. October 13, 1924.
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11

the same.
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04

This is number 25, another Fokker C.IV Prima from the Higher Flying School. Moscow Central Airport, also known as Trotsky Airport. 1925. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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12

Instructor Leonid Grigorevich Minov gives parachute lessons to the crew of a military C.IV.
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13

Leonid Grigorevich Minov with a parachute in the rear cockpit of a C.IV. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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18

Photographic aircraft. Personnel from Dobrolet and Vostokkino ('East Film', a film crew) pose in front of a C.IV. In 1928, two military C.IV Primas were acquired by Dobrolet and converted into photo aircraft. The cowling bears the word "Dobrolet" in decorative letters. This distinctive style was only used on Dobrolet's first two C.IVs. Another C.IV is just visible in the background. Birsk, Bashkortostan. July 1930.
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01

Three C.IVs of the Dobrolet Aerial Photography Department. From left to right: CCCP-167 (c/n 2332), CCCP-?, and CCCP-174 (c/n 2305). Birsk, Bashkortostan. Summer 1930. From the collection of PV Zaiki.
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19

Dobrolet aerial photography department personnel pose with and on their disassembled aircraft. On the left is CCCP-173 (c/n 2313) and on the right is CCCP-167 (c/n 2332). It is unclear why these aircraft were disassembled. Birsk, Bashkortostan. Summer 1930. From the collection of PV Zaiki.
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19.1

Drawing of the photo installation developed in Russia for the C.IV. Side view.
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19.2

The same photo installation, top view.
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14

Postal planes. Opening of the Moscow – Irkutsk – Moscow airmail line. This is the stopover in Omsk, about halfway along the route. People are crowding around the plane. A navigation light can be seen on the wingtip. May 17, 1929. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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14.1

Left: Side view of the navigation light and its mounting in the wing. Right: Top view.
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15

The plane is being refueled.
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16

Group photo in front of a C.IV of Dobrolet's postal service. A wind generator, a small windmill that generated electricity, is visible on top of the wing. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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16.1

Dobrolet's Fokker C.IV, equipped for night mail flights. Here, empty mail bags appear to be being handed over. The wind generator is visible on the starboard wing. A landing light is mounted under the other wing. From the collection of G.F. Petrov.
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16.2

Close-up of the wind generator.
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16.3

An extra battery, intended for night flights.
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17

Fokker C.IV c/n 2317, registration CCCP-ф43 (USSR-F43), parked somewhere in a snowy field. The registration was granted on September 8, 1931.
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Russian Fokkers 4

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