The first aircraft owned by private persons date from right after the end of the First World War. Especially companies soon realized that the aircraft could take them across the country or the world to all kind of places where the airlines did not come. In this article, we will present one of the larger private aircraft around, the Fokker F.VIIb-3m. The text of this article is an extract from the series of books (four volumes) written by Theo Wesselink about the Fokker F.VII. These books can be obtained through Dutch Aviation. [caption id="attachment_4173" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The Fokker F.VIIb-3m, G-EBZJ...
No, Albert Plesman did not found KLM!
Many believe Albert Plesman, on 7 October 1919, was the founder of the airline KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. You can read here the correct story. More about this story can be found in the book “The Fokker Fours”, published by European Airlines Publishing House. In mid-1918, the KNVvL took the initiative to form a Commissie voor Luchtvaartverkeer (a commission for ‘aviation traffic’) that produced a report pleading for airmail services. A private company supported by the State should operate these. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the economic optimism grew in the Netherlands as well....
‘And the ship flies beautifully’
[caption id="attachment_3832" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Arrival of Kingsford-Smith and his crew after the flight from Hasbrouck Heights to Washington-Bolling. (via Gert Blüm)[/caption] In 1928, Charles Edward Kingsford Smith and his crew made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States of America to Australia. Later, he made the first non-stop crossing of the Australian mainland, the first flight between Australia and New Zealand, and the first eastward Pacific crossing from Australia to the United States. Finally, he made a flight from Australia to London in 10.5 days. All these flights were made by the Fokker F.VIIb-3m, named Southern Cross. His aircraft...
Europe’s first bridge drive in the air (?)
[caption id="attachment_3758" align="aligncenter" width="765"] Arrival passenger of the first bridge drive in the air in Europe. Photo: (Stadsarchief Amsterdam)[/caption] Today, just a short story. A first for KLM could be registered on Sunday, 2 June 1935, when the first bridge drive was organized on board the Fokker F XXXVI, PH-AJA Arend, while flying above the Netherlands. The airline had taken the initiative for this flight. Thirty-two of the best Dutch bridge players, among them the brothers Goudsmit, were invited to join. They departed at 1530, and returned at 1700. Hendrik Hagenaar, the editor of the newspaper Het Vaderland, was...
The ultimate price deserves respect
[caption id="attachment_3596" align="aligncenter" width="583"] Photograph of a similar aircraft as mentioned in the article: Short Stirling. (via Wikipedia)[/caption] Although my website is about civil aviation, I do hope my followers allow me to point out this article: The Netherlands has a rich tradition in salvaging wrecks of Allied bombers and fighters from the Second World War. The below mentioned article came to my attention and touched me. I feel that we also in other countries should try to do our best to keep alive the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrefice for our freedom. Possible salvage aircraft wreck with...
Northrop 1C Delta, SE-ADI at Amsterdam-Schiphol
[caption id="attachment_3572" align="aligncenter" width="943"] The aircraft arrived in april 1934 at Amsterdam-Schiphol on its way to Paris-Le Bourget.[/caption] New photograph found of the Northrop 1C Delta of AB Aerotransport, taken while making a stop at Amsterdam-Schiphol on it way to Paris 1934: To demonstrate the possibility of nonstop flight with the Northrop Delta 1C, it was decided to make a record flight from Paris to Stockholm. As mentioned, on 19 April, the Northrop Delta 1C had been registered. The same evening the aircraft was flown to Stockholm (Barkarby), where it took off in the early morning of Friday, 20 April,...
ELTA – The First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam, 1919
For: www.europeanairlines.no By: Rob J M Mulder The Eerste Luchtverkeer Tentoonstelling Amsterdam – E.L.T.A. (the First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam) is a clear comprehension. Every aviation enthusiast (and not only in the Netherlands) has read, heard or seen something about this exhibition. However, a detailed account has never been published. In my opinion it is one of the most important events in Dutch aviation history and equal to the first flights to the Netherlands East-Indies. Abroad the ELTA was seen with great respect and the French wrote that they had not seen such an impressive exhibition since the aviation meeting in...
THE ITALIAN AIRCRAFT ON THE ELTA OF 1919
Rob J M Mulder Between the 1 August and 14 September 1919 the Eerste Luchtverkeer Tentoonstelling Amsterdam – ELTA (First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam) was held. It was hailed as a great success: more than 100 aircraft participated and more than 500,000 spectators (some sources take about as many as 1,000,000) passed the gates. The French Captain Hirschauer wrote about the exhibition ’…since the air exhibition of Reims of 1909…never has an air show been as impressive as the ELTA’. After 90 years it is time to reflect and have a look at the Italian participation. Once the guns of the...
THE BRITISH AIRCRAFT ON THE ELTA OF 1919
Rob J M Mulder Between the 1 August and 14 September 1919 the Eerste Luchtverkeer Tentoonstelling Amsterdam – ELTA (First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam) was held. It was hailed as a great success: more than 100 aircraft participated and more than 500,000 spectators (some sources take about as many as 1,000,000) passed the gates. The French Captain Hirschauer wrote about the exhibition ’…since the air exhibition of Reims of 1909…never has an air show been as impressive as the ELTA’. After 90 years it is time to reflect and have a look at the British participation. Once the guns of the...
KLM and the Fokker F.II and F.III
By: Rob Mulder For: www.europeanairlines.no The Fokker F.II was the first of a long range of aircraft that KLM purchased from the Nederlandsche Vliegtuigfabriek NV (Fokker) before the Second World War. KLM had opened its first air service on May 17, 1920 with leased British aircraft, but ordered in July 1920 the first Fokker F.IIs. The fleet was within two years extended by the new Fokker F.IIIs. In this article we give a short introduction of both aircraft. This article is the second version. The first version has been taken down from the internet after just one day since the...