Fokker F.14

The Fokker F.14 was a Dutch single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane developed by the Fokker company in the early 1920s. Designed by the legendary aircraft engineer Reinhold Platz, the F.14 first flew on 24 September 1919 as a response to a post‑war demand for a fast, reliable transport suitable for the emerging commercial routes in Europe and the Dutch East Indies. Powered by a 300 hp Rolls‑Royce Eagle V12, it featured an all‑metal fuselage framed with duralumin, a wooden wing covered in fabric, and an enclosed cabin that could accommodate up to six passengers plus a pilot. Its retractable landing gear, a rarity at the time, and a streamlined nose contributed to a top speed of roughly 200 km/h and a service ceiling of 4,500 m. Only a handful of examples were produced; most were sold to KLM and other regional airlines, where the aircraft proved capable of operating from short, unpaved airfields. Although quickly superseded by more powerful multi‑engine types, the F.14 demonstrated the feasibility of combining metal construction with passenger comfort, marking an important step toward the modern airliner and solidifying Fokker’s reputation as an innovator in interwar aviation.