Fokker D.XVII

Fokker D.XVII, was a 1930s Dutch sesquiplane. 

It was the last fabric-covered biplane fighter developed in a lineage that extended back to the First World Wars D.VII.

Problems with severe vibration in the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial engine on the Fokker D.XVI resulted in one being converted to use a normally aspirated 500 hp (370 kW) Curtiss Conqueror V-1570 V-twelve, becoming the prototype for the D.XVII.

Production versions were fitted with a 600 hp (450 kW) Rolls-Royce Kestrel, while one aircraft was built with a 790 hp (590 kW) Lorraine Pétrel and another was built with a 690 hp (510 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs for comparison purposes.

The structure was standard for Fokker aircraft throughout the 1920s.

The sesquiplane’s fuselage was welded steel tube with fabric covering and the wings were made with wood spars and ribs covered with plywood.

Specifications

Crew

One

Length

7.20 m (23 ft 7 in)

Upper wingspan

9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)

Height

3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)

Wing area

20.0 m2 (215 sq ft)

Empty weight

1,120 kg (2,469 lb)

Gross weight

1,500 kg (3,307 lb)

Fuel capacity

190 L (42 imp gal; 50 US gal)

Powerplant

1 × Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIS liquid-cooled V-12, 482 kW (646 hp) 655 CV @ 3,500 m (11,500 ft), .68 gear ratio.

Propellers

2-bladed

Performance

Maximum speed

345 km/h (214 mph, 186 kn)

Cruise speed

290 km/h (186 mph, 162 kn)

Range

660 km (410 mi, 360 nmi)

Service ceiling

9,400 m (31,000 ft)

Wing loading

75 kg/m2 (15 lb/sq ft)

Power/mass

0.195 hp/lb (0.321 kW/kg)

Armament

Guns

2 × FN-Browning M.36 7.92 mm (0.31 in) machine guns.