Koolhoven F.K.52

Koolhoven F.K.52 was a Dutch-designed, two-seat reconnaissance fighter biplane, which was developed in the 1930s by Koolhoven.

The aircraft was equipped with an enclosed cockpit and single-strut landing gear.

Only six aircraft were produced.

The aircraft saw some service in the Finnish Air Force.

The FK.52 was proposed as a replacement for the Fokker C.Vs of the Luchtvaartafdeling (LVA), the Dutch Army Air Force.

The prototype aircraft made its maiden flight on February 9, 1937.

The aircraft was however lost in an accident on August 11 the same year, while displaying in front of Boy Scouts during the 5th World Scout Jamboree.

Although the Koolhoven was an obsolete design by 1938, they began building a few FK.52s.

The Dutch Air Force ordered 36 aircraft in 1939, but only five had been manufactured, when the Germans invaded the Netherlands.

Specifications

Crew

2

Length

8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)

Wingspan

9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)

Height

3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)

Wing area

28.4 m2 (306 sq ft)

Empty weight

1,650 kg (3,638 lb)

Max take-off weight

2,500 kg (5,512 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Bristol Mercury VIII,

9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,

625 kW (838 hp)

Propellers

3-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

380 km/h (240 mph, 210 kn)

Cruise speed

308 km/h (191 mph, 166 kn)

Range

1,130 km (700 mi, 610 nmi)

Service ceiling

9,800 m (32,200 ft)

Armament

Guns

2 × forward-firing 7.7 mm machine guns in wings

Bombs

150 kg (330 lb) of bombs.