Fokker
Fokker F.56
The Fokker F.56 was a single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane developed by the Dutch manufacturer Fokker in the early 1930s to meet the growing demand for high‑speed, long‑range mail and passenger service. Drawing on the aerodynamic lessons learned from the successful F.IV and F.VII series, the F.56 incorporated a sleek, all‑metal cantilever wing, a retractable undercarriage and a fully enclosed cockpit that reduced drag and improved crew comfort. Powered by a 750‑horsepower Hispano‑Suiza 12Ybr V‑12 engine, the aircraft could cruise at 280 km/h (174 mph) and reach a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph), while carrying up to eight passengers or 1 200 kg of freight over a range of 1 500 km. First flown in 1933, the prototype impressed both commercial airlines and military observers, leading to a limited production run of 24 machines for the Royal Dutch Airways and several foreign carriers. Although quickly superseded by more powerful twin‑engine designs, the F.56 demonstrated the viability of all‑metal monoplane construction in the interwar period and influenced later Fokker models such as the F.XXI fighter. Its legacy endures as a bridge between the wood‑and‑fabric biplanes of World I and the modern metal aircraft that dominated World II.