The New York herald., 1920-11-21
Single, Thick Wings
Braced From Inte-
rior Permit Lower
Engine Power and
Greater Lifting


fighting plane of the Great war An
thony H. G. Fokker. the young Dutchman
who was the German genius of the air, has
turned to the construc Ion Of slower, safer
and more economical commercial planes.
For precisely the same reasons that the
best cruiser in the world would fail miserably
as an Atlantic liner Mr.. Fokker, who arrived
here recently, declares that the planes de-
veloped during the war will fail on the com
mercial flying lines which are rapidly de-
veloping throughout the world and particu-
larly in Europe
He points out that the terrific speed Of
these planes in the air makes their landing
speed high, and a plane that lands rapidly,
at fifty or sixty miles an hour. for example,
is much more likely to break its landing
gear, nose over or come cropper in some
other way than machine which takes to
earth at slower pace. Again, the war ma
chine was built without regard for economy
of fuel, of oil and of upkeep generally, and
consequently Is a very expensive proposition
when 1t comes to flying long distances daily.
Furthermore, manpuvrabilty, the power of
doing barrel rolls, loops. Immelman turns
and other evolutions is as unnecessary in
commercial machine as the ability to travel
n
cab.
The Fokker Peace Plane Differs
Radically From the War Type
When Mr. Fokker came to this country
from Holland he brought with him photo
graphs and specifications of the peace type
machine as he conceived It, These peace air
planes are radically different from his fight
ing machines. so different that 1t is hard to
realize that the same man built them. Aero
nautical engineers, like other people, are In
clined to have hobbies concerning particu-
lar types but Mr.. Fokker shows no inclina-
ton to stick to the type which made his
name very unfavorably known to allied ava
tors during the war.
From the small. high powered biplane the
Dutch inventor has leaped to the large. low
powered monopane, which Is at the opposite
end of the aeronautical types. FROM the
canvas wing he has jumped to the wooden
wing, and from the exterior struts or braces
and wires which supported the wings of his
lighting craft he has gone to the cantilever
principle, which means, simply, wing
which is braced and made strong by sup
ports within the wing itself.
In bringing his plans and pictures to this
country Mr.. Fokker did not disguise the
reason for his visit.
FRANKLY / am out for business all over
the world" he said. Holland is a small
country and my wings are large. Air trans
port is of the most international importance
and its possibilities have to be studied every
where. have my eye not only on the re-
ouirements for transcontinental traffic. but
even on the question of a transatlantic SER
vice"
The commercial planes which Mr. Fokker
is at present turning out at his Amsterdam
factory have been designated by him as F-2,
F-3 and F-4 models. The F-3 is an Inn
provement on the F2, and the F-4 is a
larger plane.
The F-2 and F-3 planes are designed TO
carry from four to eight persons and their
baggage, the number depending upon the
horse power of the motor used. The plane
can accommodate number of French. Ger
man, English and American motors ranging
from $50 TO 260 horse power This is very
much less power per passenger than was
used In war machines. For example. the
De Haviand planes used by this country
carried only two persons. pilot and observer,
and sometimes a few bombs but were
equipped with 400 horse power Liberty
motors.
II f.