Fokker G.I

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_G.I

The Fokker G.I was a Dutch heavy twin-engined fighter aircraft comparable in
size and role to the German Messerschmitt Bf 110. Although in production prior
to World War II, its combat introduction came at a time the Netherlands were
overrun by the Germans. The few G.Is that were mustered into service were able
to score several victories. Some were captured intact after the Germans had
occupied the Netherlands. The remainder of the production run was taken over by
the Luftwaffe for use as trainers.

Besides its main mission, the G.1 could be configured for ground attack and
light bombing missions (it could carry a bomb load of one 400 kg/882 lb bomb or
combinations of two 200 kg/441 lb or 10 26 kg/57 lb bombs).

The design and construction of the prototype (registered as X-2) was completed
in just seven months. At its introduction at the Paris Air Show in November
1936, even before its first flight, the G.I was a sensation, appearing in a
purple and yellow finish (evocative of the Spanish Republican colors, thought to
be Fokker's first export customer).

Like all Fokker aircraft of the period, the G.I was of mixed construction; the
front of the central pod were built around a welded frame, covered with
aluminium plating. The back of the central pod, however, as well as the wings,
were completely constructed with wood.

The G.I prototype, powered by 485 kW (650 hp) Hispano-Suiza 14AB-02/03 engines,
had its first flight at Welschap Airfield, near Eindhoven on 16 March 1937 with
Karel Mares at the controls. Later, Emil Meinecke took over much of the test
flights. The maiden flight went well, but a subsequent test flight in September
1937 ended with a supercharger explosion that nearly caused the loss of the
prototype. The accident prompted a replacement of the Hispano-Suiza engines with
559 kW (750 hp) Pratt & Whitney SB4-G Twin Wasp Junior engines.


Role
Heavy fighter

Manufacturer
Fokker

Designer
Erich Schatzki and Marius Beeling (after 1938)

First flight
16 March 1937

Primary users
Luchtvaartafdeling
Luftwaffe

Number built
63

During testing, the company received a contract from the Spanish Republican
government for 26 G.1 "export" versions with Pratt & Whitney engines. Despite
receiving payment, the order was destined never to be fulfilled as the Dutch
government placed an embargo on the sale of military equipment to Spain. Fokker
however continued building the aircraft and a story was released to the press
that they were intended for Finland, hence the persistent tales about a
"Finnish" order. To make matters more complex, Finland showed great interest in
the G.I, but eventually purchased Bristol Blenheim light bombers.

On 10 May 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands, 23 G.1 aircraft were
serviceable while production of Spain's order of the G.1 Wasp variant continued
with a dozen aircraft completed, awaiting armament.

The German invasion started with an early morning (03:50 hours) Luftwaffe attack
on the Dutch airfields. While the 4th JaVA received a devastating blow, losing
all but one of its aircraft, eight 3rd JaVA G.1 fighters of the Waalhaven
airbase in Rotterdam, that were already fully fuelled and armed, scrambled in
time and successfully engaged several German aircraft. The surviving aircraft
continued to fly, but with mounting losses, bringing their numbers down to three
airworthy aircraft by the end of the first day. Despite the heavy losses of 4th
JaVA, some of the planes could be kept in the air by scavenging parts from
various planes. In the "Five-day War", the available G.1 fighters were mainly
deployed in ground attack missions, strafing advancing German infantry units,
but also used to attack Junkers Ju 52/3m transports. Although reports are
fragmentary and inaccurate as to the results, G.1 fighters were employed over
Rotterdam and the Hague, contributing to the loss of 167 Ju 52s, scoring up to
14 confirmed aerial kills.

Specifications (Fokker G.I Mercury)

General characteristics
Crew: 2-3
Length: 10.87 m (35 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 17.16 m (56.29 ft)
Height: 3.80 m (12.4 ft)
Wing area: 38.30 m² (412.26 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,325 kg (7,330 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,800 kg (10,582 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Mercury VIII nine-cylinder air-cooled single-row piston
radial engine, 730 hp at 2,650 rpm for takeoff, 830 hp (618 kW) at 4,100m at
2,750rpm maximum continuous power (545 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 475 km/h at 4,100m (295 mph)
Range: 1,510 km (938 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,808 ft)
Rate of climb: 13.5 m/s (44.29 ft/s)
Wing loading: 125.3 kg/m² (25.68 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.22 kW/kg (0.14 hp/lb; 0.30 hp/kg)
Time to altitude: 6.0 min 20 sec to 5,000 m (16,405 ft)

Armament

8× 7.9 mm (0.31 in) forward-firing FN-Browning machine guns in the nose
1× 7.9 mm (0.31 in) machine gun in rear turret
300 kg (660 lb) of bombs (G.1 Wasp could take 400 kg (880 lb))




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