CHAPTER XII

HERR FOKKER’S RUSSIAN LADY PILOT

THE third notable aviation visitor to come to Russia from Germany was a Dutchman, Herr Fokker, the constructor of Germany's famous aeroplane, to whom the war has given a world-wide reputation.

When he visited Russia, Fokker was not more than twenty-one years old, but although he was a boy in point of age he was already a man of extraordinary ability and originality.

Mr. Kennedy¹ met him in Petrograd and the two aerial constructors became close friends, and I have heard from Mr. Kennedy many interesting details of the Dutchman's romantic career.

He astonished the Russian aviators by his skillful piloting as well as by the unprecedented stability of his monoplane.

The Fokker at this time had its wings fixed at a considerable dihedral angle. The wings had no ailerons attached to them nor could they be warped. Transversal stability was attained by reducing the engine power immediately the aeroplane took a dangerous angle.

Notwithstanding Fokker's many excellent flights, the Russian authorities were not entirely convinced that his system of construction was ideal, and Fokker was unable to receive orders for his machines in Petrograd, although it was admitted that they were easy to pilot.

He had one or two interesting experiences during his stay in Russia.

The aeronautic mathematician Botezat² was standing with some of his friends watching Fokker assemble his aeroplane, which he could do in a very few minutes. Not knowing that the busy mechanic was Fokker himself, Botezat assured his friends that such an aeroplane could not possibly fly, and he proved his contention by apparently incontrovertible mathematical assertions.

The professor was speaking in French, but Herr Fokker understood what he was saying.

He introduced himself and laughingly said that he did not care a jot for the mathematics and that he would demonstrate within two minutes that Botezat's assertions were entirely wrong.

Whereupon he started his 100 h.p. Argus engine and taking a short run rose gracefully in the air, putting his aeroplane through all sorts of extraordinary manœuvres over the head of the astonished scientist.

Botezat turned to his friends and remarked : “ Amazing, amazing, quite an optical delusion ! ”

The scepticism of the Russian authorities towards the Fokker machines is not really surprising when it is remembered that, at this time, the German Government were not yet convinced of their advantages.

Herr Fokker consulted Mr. Kennedy as to the best way to convince the aviation world that his aeroplanes were the easiest machines to pilot.

Mr. Kennedy advised him to secure a lady pilot and to endeavour to train her to make a record flight. Herr Fokker explained that lady aviators were difficult to find in Germany, where the men preferred their womenfolk to be domesticated and where neither Fraus nor Fräuleins were encouraged to adopt flying as a pastime.

Thereupon Mr. Kennedy introduced a young Russian lady pilot named Golantchikova³ to Herr Fokker. He immediately engaged her and took her back with him to Berlin, where shortly afterwards she made a world's height record on a Fokker monoplane.

The creation of this record was one of the causes that induced the German Government to extend their patronage and encouragement to the Dutch inventor.

Mlle. Golantchikova did not like Germany and the Germans, and after a short stay in Herr Fokker's employment, she went to Paris, where she flew on Nieuport and Morane monoplanes.

Herr Fokker has considerably improved his machines since his visit to Russia, and today he is properly regarded by the Allies as one of Germany's most considerable assets, his latest very swift monoplanes being a constant source of trouble at the front.

These machines are built on the lines of the Morane G, but Herr Fokker has made many improvements that are distinctly his own.

After a stay of some time in France, Mlle. Golantchikova returned to Russia, and she is still prominently associated with aviation.

The record of her flights proves her right to be considered the most accomplished lady pilot in the world.

1. Chessborough Mackenzie-Kennedy. Scotchman, living since 1906 in Russia.

2. Georgiy Botezat. Would later become famous designing as an expat the first U.S. helicopter.

3. Ljuba Golantchikova. Third Russian woman to obtain a flight certificate.