Fokker F.XVIII
Fokker · Netherlands · first flew 1932 · airliner
The Fokker F.XVIII was a Dutch high-wing trimotor airliner developed in 1932 as an enlarged development of the F.XVIII series for long-haul colonial routes. It combined the classic Fokker wooden-wing construction with a welded-steel-tube fuselage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | High-wing trimotor with corrugated metal fuselage and fixed undercarriage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing trimotor with corrugated metal fuselage and fixed undercarriage
- Centre engine in nose, two engines on leading-edge struts either side
- Enclosed passenger cabin with rectangular windows
Distinguished by its high straight wing, three radial engines with the centre unit mounted in the nose, and a slab-sided enclosed fuselage on fixed spatted undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Fokker F.XVIII has a length of 18.5 m (61 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24.5 m (80 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 240 km/h (149 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 crew, ~16 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Fokker built the F.XVIII primarily for KLM's Amsterdam–Batavia service via the East Indies route, one of the longest scheduled routes of its era. Only a handful were constructed, serving through the 1930s. The type exemplified Fokker's formula of reliable trimotors for extended overwater and overland operations.
Variants
No major production variants were produced; the F.XVIII was essentially a stretched refinement within the Fokker trimotor family that also included the F.VII and F.XII.
Where you'll see it
Operated almost exclusively by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines on its demanding colonial routes, the F.XVIII was retired as more modern all-metal designs appeared in the late 1930s.
Related aircraft
- Fokker D.XVII
- Fokker F.XII
- Fokker F.XX
- General Aviation PJ-1
- Airspeed Ferry
- Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta
- General Aviation GA-43
- Heinkel He 70 Blitz
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.