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Koolhoven F.K.58

1940 WORLD WAR 2

Koolhoven F.K. 58 Stories

Before being conquered by Nazi Germany, the Netherlands had a viable and unique aviation industry, led by names like Fokker and Koolhoven. While not a single standout design compared to the larger fighters of the interwar period, some impressive models emerged, such as the Fokker D. XXI fighter and the G. I Reaper heavy fighter.

Koolhoven contributed to the F.K. 56 trainer, the F.K. 55 prototype fighter and the F.K. 58 production fighter.

For the latter, the design was led by Erich Schatzki, and the aircraft was originally intended to serve the Dutch and French colonial territories, which would have been an excellent safety measure. The French Air Force used it as a fighter/interceptor to prop up their own strained aviation industry.

Since frugality was mainstream at the time, the platform should have good performance characteristics compared to its contemporaries, and be relatively cheap and easy to build in large numbers. Schatzki has applied his design flair to Fokker D. XXI (described in detail elsewhere on this site), so F.K.

58 serves as an extension of that work. The first flight of the Type 1166 prototype took place on July 17, 1938, although only 20 of them were completed, when the Dutch were killed in early battles with Germany.

From the looks of it, the F.K. 58 is a state-of-the-art fighter jet - metal landing gear, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear are some of its features. Dimensions include a length of 28.7 feet, a wingspan of 36 feet, and a height of 9.9 feet.

The curb weight is 4,255 pounds, while the fully loaded weight is 6,065 pounds. Standard fixed armament ends with 4 x 7.5mm FN Browning machine guns mounted under the main aircraft in each wing (two machine guns per wing).

The prototype was equipped with a 1,080 hp Hispano-Suiza 14AA engine, to which both aircraft were built. The FK-58 model in service with the Dutch Air Force was replaced by the Bristol Taurus engine, but due to the deterioration of the war, it was not produced. The original production order was for the F.K. 58 model standard with the existing 14AA engine, but production resulted in only 7 examples.

This was followed by the F.K. 58A, powered by a 1,030-horsepower Gnome Rhone 14N-16 series engine, with 11 built.

Using the 14N-16 radial, the airframe can handle a top speed of 315 mph and fly at about 280 mph. Range is reportedly 465 miles, with service capped at 32,810 feet. The climb rate is 1,130 feet per minute.

In January 1939, the French ordered a batch of 50 fighter jets to be equipped with French instruments and engines. However, the lack of these two parts meant that only seventeen were built with these parts - the rest were shipped with original Dutch equipment (which was later remedied).

In late 1939, the Dutch government placed its own initial series order, which was optimistic for 36 aircraft powered by Bristol Taurus engines, but the lack of these British engines led to a switch to the Bristol "Mercury VIII" series.

In May 1940, only 13 fronts were available, which were piloted by Polish pilots in the desperate defenses of the Netherlands and France. As the situation deteriorated, the fighters were relegated to pure air defenders to contain the fighting below. In contrast, the Jager was completely superior to the German type it was intended to face - slower and under-equipped. Even if they reach the required number, the export lines for conquering Western Europe shouldn't change much.

F.K. 58 pilots flew fewer than 50 missions during World War II and did not take air kills against a lost F.K. 58 (which reportedly never directly engaged an airborne enemy). After the fall of France, all F.K. 58 fighters were destroyed.