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.

The G.I, given the nickname le Faucheur ("The Reaper" in French), was designed
as a private venture in 1936 by Fokker chief engineer Dr. Schatzki. Intended for
the role of jachtkruiser, "heavy" fighter or air cruiser, able to gain air
superiority over the battlefield as well as being a bomber destroyer, the G.1
would fulfill a role seen as important at the time, by advocates of Giulio
Douhet's theories on air power. The Fokker G.I utilized a twin-engined,
twin-boom layout that featured a central nacelle housing two or three crew
members (a pilot, radio operator/navigator/rear gunner or a bombardier) as well
as a formidable armament of twin 23 mm (.91 in) Madsen cannon and a pair of 7.9
mm (.31 in) machine guns (later eight machine guns) in the nose and one in a
rear turret.

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.

Besides the Dutch Luchtvaartafdeeling, several foreign air forces showed an
interest in the G.I. as either a fighter or dive-bomber. In order to test its
potential as a dive-bomber, the G.1 prototype was fitted with hydraulically
operated dive brakes under the wings. Flight tests revealed that the G.1 was
capable of diving at over 644 km/h (400 mph) and demonstrated aerobatic
capabilities. Swedish Air Force officer Captain Björn Bjuggren tested the G.1 in
over 20 dives and reported favourably on its effectiveness as a dive bomber.
Orders for G.1b Wasp aircraft came from Spain (26 ordered) and Sweden (18),
while the Mercury variant was ordered by Denmark (12) together with a production
license that never became to be used, and Sweden . Although Belgium, Finland,
Turkey, Hungary and Switzerland air forces showed great interest, they never
placed firm orders.

The Luchtvaartafdeeling ordered 36 G.I's with 541 kW (725 hp) Bristol Mercury
VIII engines, the standard engine used by the Dutch Air Force in the Fokker
D.XXI fighter, in order to equip two squadrons. Only the first four examples
were built as three-seaters intended for ground-attack, with the remainder being
completed as two-seat fighters. During the lead-up to hostilities, a total of 26
G.I's were operational in the 3rd Jachtvliegtuigafdeling (JaVA) at Rotterdam
(Waalhaven Airfield), and 4th JaVA Fighter Group at Bergen near Alkmaar. The
aircraft were actively involved in border patrols and in order to ensure
neutrality, on 20 March 1940, a G.1 from 4th JaVA forced down an Armstrong
Whitworth Whitley from the RAF's 77 sqn when it strayed into Dutch air space.

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))

or
2× 23mm Madsen cannons in nose
2× Further unspecified forward firing machineguns
1 Further unspecified machinegun firing aft




*