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Fokker-Atlantic Universal

The Fokker Universal was the first aircraft built in the United States that was based on the designs of Dutch-born Anthony Fokker, who had designed aircraft for the Germans during World War I.

Anthony Fokker established the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation at the Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, New Jersey.

One of his first ventures for the new company was building other aircraft under license.

In 1926, he formulated plans to create an original aircraft designed for utility and air transport.

The design was spearheaded by Robert Noorduyn and based on conventional Fokker designs.

The mixed-material construction featured a welded steel tube frame for the fuselage and tail surfaces that were covered in fabric as well as a large wing constructed of wood with a wingspan of 14.55 m, mounted above the fuselage.

When the Fokker Universal (known within Fokker as the Model 4) was first developed in 1925, it had a 149 kW (200 hp) Wright J-4 or a 164 kW (220 hp) J-5 engine.

The later Standard Universal version was powered by a 246 kW (330 hp) Wright J-6-9 engine.

Two gasoline tanks were mounted in the wings near the forward edge.

As typical of the era, the pilot sat in an open cockpit forward of the wing’s leading edge.

The enclosed cabin below and to the rear of the pilot held four to six passengers or could be fitted for cargo hauling.

At a time when Fokker America was mostly producing local versions of aircraft designed in the Netherlands, the Universal reversed this situation by becoming an American-designed aircraft produced by the parent company as the Fokker F.XI.

Specifications

Crew

One

Capacity

4 passengers or 940 lb / 427 kg cargo

Length

33 ft 3 in (10.13 metres)

Wingspan

47 ft 9 in (14.56 metres)

Height

8 ft 9 in (2.7 metres)

Wing area

341 sq ft (31.68 sq metres)

Empty weight

2,192 lb (996 kg)

Loaded weight

4,000 lb (1,818 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Wright J-5 radial engine,

220 hp (164 kW)

Propellers

Hamilton-Standard fixed-pitch metal propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

118 mph (189 km/h, 103 kn)

Cruise speed

98 mph (158 km/h, 86 kn)

Range

500 mi (439 nmi, 805 km)

Service ceiling

12,000 ft (3,658 m).

 

 

 

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