Fokker Spin

The Fokker Spin was the first aircraft designed and built by Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker, marking the birth of the Fokker company in 1911. Constructed from a wooden framework covered with fabric, the single‑seat monoplane featured a slender, cigar‑shaped fuselage that gave it the nickname “Spin.” Powered initially by a modest 50 hp Gnome rotary engine, later versions received a 70 hp Antoinette or a 100 hp Oberursel, allowing a top speed of roughly 90 km/h and a service ceiling of 2,000 m. Its simple, open‑circuit control system—wing warping for roll, a movable rudder, and an elevator—was typical of pre‑World I designs, yet the Spin’s balance and handling impressed contemporary pilots. In 1912 Fokker used the aircraft to win the first prize in a Dutch military competition, securing a contract that led to the production of larger, more advanced fighters. The Spin’s success demonstrated the viability of Dutch aviation manufacturing and propelled Fokker into the international spotlight. By the outbreak of World War I the Spin was retired, but its legacy endured as the prototype that launched a company responsible for iconic aircraft such as the Dr.I triplane and the D.VII.

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