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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0992.PDF
994 FLIGHT. SEPTEMBER 27, 1934. rtv SPEED AND COMFORT Some Impressions of an Afternoon Spent in Flying Around Holland in an and a Douglas D.2 By C. M. POULSENS CHIPHOL, the Amster- dam aerodrome, pre- sented an even busier appearance than usual last Saturday. The day was something of an occa- sion, not only for Amster- dam, but for the whole of Holland. The N.V. Neder- landsche Vliegtuigenfab- riek, better and more con- veniently known as the Fokker company, was "having a party." In conjunction with the Royal Dutch Air Lines (KLM) the company had invited a number of guests to see and try for themselves two new commercial aeroplanes shortly to be placed on the i 0 K> TWENTHE "^aal Hengeloo^J .«* AROUND HOLLAND IN AN AFTERNOON : Sketchmap of the route flown by the Fokker F.36 and Douglas D.2. KLM routes: The Fokker F.36 and the Douglas D.2. Fortunate enough to be one of those invited, I arrived at Schiphol shortly after ten. The large F.36 was just about to take off, and although this new machine made its first test flights some time ago, and has been doing a good deal of flying, this was my first opportunity of seeing it. Its take-off was certainly good, and the climb appeared to be in keeping with modern requirements. While wait- ing for the machine to return, one had an opportunity to examine the Douglas D.2, which had arrived from America a few days earlier. It may be recollected that the Fokker company has secured the sole rights for Europe (Soviet Russia excepted) for this design, and that the first machine to arrive from America is flying in the England-Australia race. It is the property of, and has been entered by, the KLM. The Douglas DC 1 was described and illustrated in Flight of March 1, 1934. In almost every respect the D.2 is similar. It is a twin-engined all-metal low-wing canti- lever monoplane of very refined aerodynamic design. Streamlining has been carried to its logical conclusion, and it is almost unnecessary to state that the under- carriage retracts. The twin-engined arrangement lends itself so obviously to retracting the wheels into the engine nacelles. Metal covering is used, the "skin" of wing and fuselage being of the smooth type. The fact that no paintwork is used externally gives the machine a rather " tinny " appearance, but the lines are very pleasing, and the workmanship looks good ..'._.... Two Wright "Cyclone" engines are fitted, and drive Hamilton Standard three - bladed controllable pitch propellers. The en- gines are enclosed in N.A.C.A. cowling rings, and the nacelles are care- fully faired into the wing surfaces. Each of the Good- rich Silvertown wheels is carried on a fork and re- tracts by being swung for- ward and upward. Bendix "Pneudraulic Shock Struts" and wheel brakes are fitted. This rather cursory ex- amination completed, and the Fokker F.36 having landed in the meantime, the real business of the day began. At the very outset the thoroughness of the organisation became evident. Each guest was handed an envelope containing strip maps of the routes to be flown, plans of the seating accommoda- tion of the two machines, a typewritten sheet with the numbers of the seats he was to occupy during the day, and a smaller envelope containing cotton wool and a packet of chewing gum. The general plan for the day was that the two machines should make a circuit of Holland, or at least of part of Holland, should alight at a number of aero- dromes where the passengers transferred from one machine to the other, or from one seat to another in the same machine. In this way each passenger would have an opportunity to try both machines, and various seats in each machine. It would be difficult to imagine a better way of getting to know the qualities of the F.36 and Douglas in the shortest possible time. The first flight was from Schiphol (pronounced Skip- hall) to Twente, a distance of 90 miles. For this flight I happened to be "drawn" for the F.36, and took my seat with my back to the rear spar. Seating accommo- dation is provided for 32 passengers, the seats being arranged two abreast on each side, with a gangway down the centre, and alternate seats facing forward and back- ward. The seats are so arranged that they form lowei berths for night flying, while the back rests pull out to form upper berths. The upholstery is in red leather, while the cabin walls are covered with blue leather. The seats are comfortable, although I found them a shade SOLIDITY: The great wing depth of the Fokker F.36 Inspires confidence. It has searing accommodationfor 32 passengers The Fokker single-seater fighter gives a good idea of the size of the F.36.
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