De Polen-spin

The 'Polish Spider'

After many wanderings of a Fokker Spin 3 from 1911/13, this original Spin from Poland ended up back in the Netherlands on 1-8-1986.
The Spin in question had come to the Netherlands from Germany in 1919 on the famous smuggling train and was later stored in a warehouse at the Fokker factory in Amsterdam North.
In the 1930s, this Spider was included in the study collection of the Delft University of Technology for a while.
Strangely enough, this Spin was not restored in 1936 for Anthony Fokker's flying anniversary, but the aforementioned replica was built.

In 1943, Fokker's production was dispersed throughout Amsterdam and the surrounding area for the German occupiers. This particular Spin ended up in the Hirsch building on Amsterdam's Leidseplein.
The Spin was subsequently confiscated by the German occupiers and transferred to Berlin.
The aircraft was damaged in a bombing raid and subsequently transported to Poland where it eventually ended up in the aviation museum in Kraków.
In 1986, Fokker's management commissioned PR officer Gerard Schavemaker to bring the Spin to the Netherlands.
After many negotiations by Dutch and Polish authorities at ministerial and embassy level, this Spider, or rather its remains, arrived in the Netherlands by truck.
After being stored for a while at the Aviodome, the Spin was presented on 1 August 1986 in a hangar of the Fokker factory at Schiphol-Oost.
After the presentation, the aircraft was displayed for some time at the Aviodome, after which this Spin was also restored at Fokker, mainly by former Fokker retirees.
The aircraft never flew after restoration, although this was its intended purpose.
The Spin, equipped with a 70 hp V8 cylinder Renault engine, had a center of gravity problem.
According to some retirees from the restoration program, this Spin was likely used for taxi tests by aspiring pilots in the past.

After investigation it turned out that the Polish government had donated the aircraft to the Dutch State, making them the official owner.
This spider has also been included in the Aviodrome collection.

Click on the photo to enlarge the photo

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Spin 3 in the collection of the TU Delft in 1930, this is probably the Spin that came to the Netherlands from Germany in 1919 and disappeared to Poland during the war years.
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02

Spin 3 somewhere in the Netherlands during a festival with an 8 cylinder Renault engine.
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03

Detail of the Spin 3 engine/propeller.
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03.1

Front view of the Spin 3.
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03.2

In 1924, a Spin was exhibited at the Paris Air Show, diagonally behind the brand-new D.XIII. After many wanderings, this Spin now stands in the Aviodrome and is known as the 'Polen Spin'.
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04

Remains of the Spin 3 at the aviation museum in Kraków, Poland. It was just before its departure to the Netherlands in 1986.
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05

A wing of the Spin 3 against the exterior of the aviation museum in Kraków, Poland.
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06

Fokker PR employee Gerard Schavemaker in the Spin 3 at the aviation museum in Kraków, Poland. Gerard Schavemaker played a significant role in the return of the Spin 3 from Poland.
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07

In this truck, Fokker collected the remains of the Spin 3 from Poland.
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08

The Spin 3 remains are unloaded for display at the Aviodome in 1986.
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09

The Spin 3 from Poland is being assembled in a hangar at the Fokker factory for a ceremonial handover to Fokker. Years later, investigation revealed that the Dutch State was the official owner of the Spin 3.
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10

The restored Spider in the Aviodrome in Lelystad.
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11

The same,
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The 'Polish Spider'

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