Pander S-4 Postjäger
Pander & Zonen · Netherlands · first flew 1933 · transport aircraft
The Pander S-4 Postjäger was a Dutch three-engine long-range mail aircraft built by Pander & Zonen of The Hague in 1933. It was designed specifically to compete in the MacRobertson Air Race from England to Australia, with the aim of carrying airmail between Amsterdam and Batavia (now Jakarta).
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Dutch 1930s three-engine long-range mail aircraft
- Three radial engines — one in nose, one on each wing
- Built for the Amsterdam–Batavia mail race
A sleek low-wing trimotor with tapered wings, three radial engines (one in the nose and one on each wing), retractable undercarriage, and a clean streamlined fuselage.
Specifications
- The Pander S-4 Postjäger has a length of 12.5 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.6 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 370 km/h (230 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built in great secrecy and unveiled in 1933, the Postjäger was an ambitious design for the Dutch aircraft industry. It competed in the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race (London to Melbourne) but suffered mechanical problems and did not complete the course. Only one example was built, and it did not achieve its operational goal of regular Amsterdam–Batavia mail service.
Variants
Only a single example was built; there were no production variants.
Where you'll see it
The sole S-4 Postjäger was used only for the MacRobertson race attempt and some demonstration flights; it did not enter regular service.
Related aircraft
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