Fokker F.IV

The Fokker F.IV was a Dutch‑built, single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane introduced in 1921 by the aircraft manufacturer Fokker. Developed as an enlarged version of the successful F.III, the F.IV featured a roomy cabin that could accommodate six passengers or a combination of passengers and mail, and it was powered by a 450‑horsepower Lorraine‑Dietrich V‑12 engine driving a two‑bladed wooden propeller. Its all‑metal fuselage, covered with plywood and fabric, gave the aircraft a sturdy yet lightweight construction, while the braced wing provided good lift at low speeds, making it suitable for the fledgling commercial routes of the early 1920s. The type gained fame when a Dutch‑registered F.IV, named “KLM‑34,” completed the first trans‑Atlantic flight by a Dutch aircraft in 1922, and several examples were used by the Royal Air Force for transport and training duties. Although only a handful were built, the F.IV demonstrated the viability of larger, passenger‑focused monoplanes and helped cement Fokker’s reputation for innovative design, influencing later classics such as the F.VII and setting a precedent for commercial aviation growth in Europe. Approximately fifteen F.IVs were built and served with airlines and militaries into the mid‑1930s.