Fokker C.VIII

The Fokker C.VIII was a Dutch two‑seat reconnaissance and light‑bombardment aircraft developed in the late 1920s by the Fokker company under the direction of Anthony Fokker. First flying in 1929, the C.VIII was an evolution of the earlier C.V series, incorporating a stronger wooden fuselage, a more powerful 600 hp Hispano‑Suiza 12Ybrs V‑12 engine and a tapered, low‑drag wing that employed a mixed construction of wood and metal spars. Its fixed, divided‑type landing gear and enclosed cockpit offered improved pilot comfort and visibility. The aircraft could reach a top speed of 260 km/h, carry up to 250 kg of bombs, and was equipped with two forward‑firing machine guns plus a flexible rear gun position. Although only a limited number were built for the Dutch East Indies Army, the C.VIII demonstrated Fokker’s ability to blend traditional wood‑based techniques with emerging aerodynamic concepts. The type served as a transitional platform that influenced later Fokker designs, such as the C.X and the successful biplane C.IV, and it highlighted the shift in interwar aviation toward faster, more heavily armed reconnaissance aircraft. Its brief operational life nevertheless left a notable imprint on the development of Dutch military aviation.

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