Fokker D.XXI

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Image:Fokker D.XXI Soesterberg.jpg Image:Fokker D.XXI.jpg

The Fokker D.XXI fighter was designed in 1935 for use by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) air service. As such it was designed as a cheap but rugged small plane, which had respectable performance for the time of conception.

Although the order by the KNIL was cancelled, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) placed an order of 36 which were all delivered in time to participate in the war against the Germans in May 1940. The Fokker D.XXI, although much slower and lighter armed than the ME 109, performed surprisingly well in dogfights, due to its good maneuverability. Nonetheless, the numerical disparity between the KLu and the Luftwaffe meant that all Dutch Fokker D.XXI fighters were destroyed during the war.

The Fokker D.XXI performed much longer and better in the Finnish Air Force which had acquired a number of these fighters prior to the start of the Winter War. Against the planes of the Soviet Air Force the Fokker was more evenly matched and its rugged design with a radial engine and fixed undercarriage made it very suitable for Finnish conditions. Later in the war, as newer models of Soviet fighters appeared, the Fokker D.XXI was too underpowered and lightly armed (with only four .30 caliber machine guns) to compete.