Pax 1940 - The Fokker F.40 and Fokker/Noorduyn F.41
In the 1930s, Fokker Aircraft had an agreement with Douglas to assemble and distribute the DC-2 and DC-3 airliners in Europe. This was a highly successful venture but Fokker saw an opportunity to sell airliners at the lower end of the market as well. To that end, airliner derivatives of their in-service T.V and prototyped T.IX twin-engined bombers were proposed.
In early 1939, the Luchtvaartafdeling cancelled its order for the final batch of four T.V bombers. This left Fokker with readily available T.V parts. As such it was proposed that the T.V airframe form the basis for a medium airliner capable of accepting the structurally more-advanced components from the T.IX when available. The T.V-based airliner would emerge as the Fokker F.40.
The prototype (with its original designation style, F.XXXX) flew from Schiphol in March 1940. This aircraft had a semi-monocoque forward fuselage seating up to 26 passengers but retained the T.V's structural approach for its fabric-covered rear fuselage. Production aircraft followed quickly with four Fokker F.40As delivered to KLM by the summer of 1940.
The F.40B which followed had an entirely semi-monocoque fuselage. KLM took on six F.40Bs and their F.40As were transfered to the Luchtvaartafdeling to act as military transports. Both 'A and 'B model F.40s were powered by Bristol Pegasus XXVI radials inherited from the T.V bomber programme. However, from the outset it was intended to produce an F.40 variant powered by the preferred Wright Cyclone radial. This was to be the F.40C.
Initial interest in the Cyclone-powered variant came from KNILM, the Royal Netherlands East Indies Airline. However, for reasons of economy, the KNILM F.40Cs retained the Pegasus engines (in this case, Polish-built PZL Pegasus XIIBs).
Bottom: The first Fokker F.40C in KNILM markings (note 'JAVA' on the underbelly). Inset are the KNILM and air mail service logos.
The Cyclone-powered derived only appeared as a later conversion programme. Five surviving F.40Bs were re-engined with 900 hp Wright SGR-1820-F62 Cyclones for use in the Antilles. As the F.40C.2, these Curaçao-based aircraft flew with KLM-WIB KLM West-Indisch Bedrijf) on various Caribbean routes inlcluding to Paramaribo, Surinam).
The Fokker/Noorduyn F.41
The parentage of the Fokker F.41 is a bit convoluted. In effect, Noorduyn Aviation of Montreal combined the fuselage of the Barkley Grow T8P-1 transport with the wooden wings from the Avro Anson. This mélange flew in Sept 1940 but the Anson undercarriage was somewhat strained by extra weight.
Having strayed somewhat out of Noorduyn Aviation's depth, Bob Noorduyn sought a cooperative development deal with his former countrymen at Fokker. Once an agreement was reached, the prototype Noorduyn 8P Norn was shipped to Amsterdam. Fokker at once decided to revise the design to create a light transport with a tricycle landing gear.
This initial tricycle gear was rather stalky and not especially strong but it did serve to demonstrate the concept. As flight-testing began at Schiphol in late Feb 1941, design of an entirely new undercarriage had already been sub-contracted to the firm of de Schelde. After a landing mishap in April 1941, this new undercarriage was installed and engines changed to production-type powerplants, twin 420 hp P&W Wasp Juniors.
Top: Prototype F.41, PH-BAL prior to its undercarriage failure at Vlissingen airfield (aka vliegveld Souburg).