Fokker
Fokker F.XVIII
The Fokker F.XVIII was a Dutch four‑engine airliner built by the Fokker company in the early 1930s. Designed as an evolution of the successful F.VII/III, the F.XVIII first flew in 1932 and entered service with KLM and several colonial operators. It featured a high‑wing, all‑metal cantilever wing, a robust wooden fuselage covered with plywood, and a spacious cabin that could accommodate up to 20 passengers in comfort for the era. Power was supplied by four Wright Cyclone radial engines mounted on the wing leading edges, giving the aircraft a respectable cruise speed of around 200 km/h and a range sufficient for inter‑continental routes such as Amsterdam‑Batavia. The type proved especially valuable for long‑distance mail and passenger services in tropical environments, where its high wing offered good ground clearance and its dependable engines tolerated hot‑and‑humid conditions. Although only a few dozen were built, the F.XVIII demonstrated the viability of multi‑engine transport and influenced later designs such as the Fokker F.XXII. Its operational history helped establish the Netherlands as a pioneer in early commercial aviation and contributed to the development of reliable, long‑range air transport.
