Fokker
Fokker D.XIV
The Fokker D.XIV was a Dutch single‑seat fighter prototype built by the Fokker company in the early 1920s. Developed in response to the post‑World War I demand for modern combat aircraft, the D.XIV first flew in 1921 under the guidance of chief designer Reinhold Platz. It featured a low‑wing monoplane layout with a wooden frame covered in fabric, a powerful 220 hp (164 kW) Hispano‑Suiza 8Ba V‑8 engine, and a fixed, conventional landing gear. The aircraft’s most notable characteristic was its cantilever wing, which eliminated external bracing and gave the D.XIV a clean aerodynamic profile, a rarity in an era still dominated by biplanes. Armament consisted of two synchronized 7.7 mm machine guns mounted on the fuselage.
Although the D.XIV demonstrated excellent performance—reaching a top speed of about 230 km/h (143 mph) and good climb rates—it never entered series production. The Dutch Army chose the more conventional Fokker D.VII license‑built version, and financial constraints further limited the project. Nevertheless, the D.XIV served as an important stepping stone for Fokker, illustrating the potential of monoplane fighters and influencing later designs such as the Fokker D.VIII and the celebrated Fokker C.VII. Its brief existence highlighted the transition from biplane to monoplane concepts in interwar aviation.
Although the D.XIV demonstrated excellent performance—reaching a top speed of about 230 km/h (143 mph) and good climb rates—it never entered series production. The Dutch Army chose the more conventional Fokker D.VII license‑built version, and financial constraints further limited the project. Nevertheless, the D.XIV served as an important stepping stone for Fokker, illustrating the potential of monoplane fighters and influencing later designs such as the Fokker D.VIII and the celebrated Fokker C.VII. Its brief existence highlighted the transition from biplane to monoplane concepts in interwar aviation.
