Koolhoven F.K.50

Koolhoven F.K.50

Manufacturer: N.V.Koolhoven
Designed by: Fritz Koolhoven
First flight: 1935
Introduced: 1935
Retired: 1962
Primary user: Swiss Alpar
Number built: 3

The Koolhoven F.K.50 was a 1930s Dutch eight-passenger light transport monoplane designed and built by Koolhoven.

Development

The F.K.50 was designed to meet a requirement from the Swiss airline Swiss Alpar for a light transport capable of operating in Switzerland. The F.K.50 was a cantilver high-wing cabin monoplane with a fixed wide track tailwheel landing gear. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior engines and had a conventional single fin and rudder. The first of two aircraft first flew on the 18 September 1935 and the second flew in March 1936. A third aircraft was built in 1938 with a re-designed tail unit with twin vertical tail surfaces. A bomber variant (the F.K.50B) was proposed but never built.

Operational history

The three aircraft operated a regular service between Swiss destinations and onwards to Lyons and Marseilles and charter flights to Paris and London. One aircraft remained in flying condition until it crashed in 1962.

Variants

F.K.50 Production variants, three built (two with single vertical tail and one with twin vertical tails) F.K.50B Proposed Bomber variant, not built.

Operators

Switzerland

Swiss Alpar

Specifications (F.K.50)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. pp. 2260.

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: eight passengers
Length: 14.30 m (46 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 17.70 m (58 ft 0¾ in)
Gross weight: 4250 kg (9369 lb)
Powerplant: 2 x— Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior TB radial engines, 303 kW (406 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 295 km/h (183 mph)

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. pp. 2260.

Koolhoven F.K.50 Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia