Fokker F.XII

The Fokker F.XII was a three‑engine, high‑wing monoplane developed in the early 1930s by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. First flown in 1931, the type was designed to replace earlier single‑engine transports such as the F.VII and to meet the growing demand for reliable, medium‑range airliners among European colonial airlines. Powered by three Lorraine‑Radium or Wright Cyclone radial engines delivering roughly 420 hp each, the F.XII featured an all‑metal fuselage with a wooden wing structure, a fixed undercarriage with spatted wheels, and a spacious cabin capable of seating eight to twelve passengers alongside a crew of two. Its relatively high wing gave good ground clearance for operation from rough grass strips, while the three‑engine layout provided redundancy that impressed operators in remote regions. The aircraft entered service with KLM, the Dutch East Indies airline KNILM, and later with British and Scandinavian carriers, proving especially valuable on routes between the Netherlands, the Dutch East Indies, and South Africa. Though only a handful were built, the F.XII demonstrated Fokker’s transition from wooden biplanes to more modern monoplane transports, influencing subsequent designs such as the iconic F.XXI and F.XXXVI and marking an important step in inter‑war commercial aviation.