Russian Fokkers

Russian Fokkers 5

A fighter plane with a capricious character

On 5 May 1923, the D.XI (c/n 2100) made its maiden flight. Shortly afterwards, on 14 July, this prototype was shown to an audience of 5,500 during the National Flying Day at Schiphol Airport. The aircraft was demonstrated twice that day, flown by two different pilots: Anthony Fokker himself, followed by Alexis Schirinkin, a Russian.

Why did Fokker hand over its newest fighter to a Russian? The reason was that Schirinkin was in the Netherlands to assess the suitability of the D.XI for the Red Air Fleet. If so, the Soviet Union was considering purchasing as many as 125 aircraft of this type.

So Fokker did a favor to a customer who was about to fill the Fokker factory's order book to the brim.

The prototype (c/n 2100), approved by Schirinkin, was shipped to Russia as a test model in the second half of September 1923. During tests in Moscow, a maximum speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) at sea level was measured. The minimum speed was 137 km/h (85 mph). The aircraft climbed to an altitude of 2 km (6.2 miles) in 5 minutes, had a takeoff length of 73 meters (240 feet), and landed at a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). It completed a loop in 7.5 seconds and a run in 6 seconds.

The purchase went through. The aircraft were delivered to Russia in two batches in the autumn of 1924: first, 50 units from the series c/n 4630-4686, then 75 units from the series c/n 4725-4803.

One D.XI cost 17,200 rubles = 21,487.50 guilders.

The D.XIs were stationed in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Smolensk.

Most of the photos are from the Russian State Archive RGVA and were first published by Andrei Averin in the Russian model building magazine M-Hobby (September 2021).

Click on the photo to enlarge the photo

1

This Fokker D.XI, c/n 4655, suffered engine failure and crashed at Kiev airfield on 12 February 1925. The pilot was F.V. Roendal.
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2

This is the second prototype of the D.XI, c/n 1201, photographed at Schiphol in the autumn of 1923.
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03

The same.
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04

Fokker D.XI c/n 4761, overturned on 17 June 1925 at Komendantsky airfield, Leningrad. The pilot's name was Skalkin. ГУДОК (klaxon) is written on the fuselage.
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05

The same.
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06

During the winter of 1923/1924, this test specimen of the D.XI (c/n 2100) was extensively tested in Moscow at the NOA (Scientific and Experimental Air Station). It is the same D.XI that was demonstrated six months earlier, on 14 July 1923, during the National Flying Day at Schiphol Airport. A Sopwith Triplane is visible in the background.
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07

Amsterdam, autumn 1924. The assembled fuselages of the Fokker D.XI are being prepared for shipment. The fuselage and wings were shipped separately in long wooden crates and assembled at their destination. From the collection of Thijs Postma.
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08

An accident involving a Fokker D.XI c/n 4798 at Komendantsky airfield, Leningrad. Date: July 20, 1925. The pilot's name was Konchakovsky.
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09

The same.
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10

Fokker D.XI c/n 4792 with a crushed tail. Date: 23 June 1925. Komendantsky airfield, Leningrad. The pilot was Bitsky. The aircraft was named after Stepan Khalturin, a 19th century Russian revolutionary responsible for the attempted assassination of Tsar Alexander II.
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11

The same.
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12

Fokker D.XI c/n 4800 crumpled at Komendantsky airfield in Leningrad. The pilot, Pylypets, had not initiated the landing properly. The aircraft bears the name "The Bushevik from Kursk."
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14

the same
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13

Fokker D.XI c/n 4667. Piloted by commander Turzhansky, this aircraft lost its tailskid when it hit a bump at Kiev airfield on 1 August 1925. A trolley was pushed under the tail.
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15

Fokker D.XI c/n 4646, rolled over at Kiev airfield after the engine failed on 11 August 1925. The pilot was Verderevsky.
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16

The same.
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17

Fokker D.XI c/n 4769, crashed at Smolensk airfield on 11 August 1925. The aircraft was piloted by Skorikov.
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18

The same.
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19

Fokker D.XI c/n 4646 lies here upside down at Smolensk airfield. The pilot was named Zaikin. The emblem, a lightning bolt striking a target, was used on all aircraft of this squadron. The aircraft does not bear stars on the underside of its wings.
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20

The same.
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21

This D.XI, s/n 4641, is also in bad shape. The accident occurred on 15 July 1926 at Smytsjkovsky airfield when pilot Moskvin made a mistake during landing.
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22

The same.
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23

This Fokker D.XI c/n 4788, named 'The Worker of Archangelsk', rolled over at Smychkovsky airfield in July 1926. The pilot was Drozdov.
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24

The same.
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Russian Fokkers 5

A fighter plane with a capricious character

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