The Koolhoven F.K.49 was a photographic survey aircraft built in the Netherlands in 1935.
| F.K.49 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Survey aircraft |
| National origin | Netherlands |
| Manufacturer | Koolhoven |
| Designer | Frederick Koolhoven |
| First flight | 1935 |
| Primary user | Luchtvaart Afdeling |
| Number built | 4, plus 3 unfinished |
Design and development
editThe F.K.48 was a high-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional design with twin engines carried in nacelles on the leading edges. Usually fitted with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage, a floatplane version was also developed. The aircraft carried an onboard darkroom.
Three examples were purchased by the Dutch Army, but only one of these was ever delivered, the other two were destroyed before completion when the Koolhoven factory was bombed by Germany on 10 May 1940. Others were purchased in small numbers by Turkey, Hungary, and Finland.[1]
Operational history
editThe sole example delivered to the Dutch Army was eventually used as a general utility type, serving as an air ambulance, parachute trainer, and general transport. The Turkish F.K.49A, powered by Fairchild Ranger engines, had a short service life before the engines caught fire in flight, resulting in a fatal crash. The Finnish Coast Guard (Merivartiolaitos) ordered two examples with floats and powered by Hirth engines. The first of these was delivered via Sweden in 1940, and gave continuous engine trouble; it was withdrawn from service after only 18 hours of flight time, and the second one ordered was never delivered.[1]
Variants
edit- F.K.49
- F.K.49A - enlarged floatplane version with Ranger engines for Turkish Air Force
Operators
edit
- Luchtvaart Afdeling (3 ordered, 1 delivered)
- Finnish Coast Guard (2 ordered, 1 delivered)
- HARITA Kitaati/Genel Komutanligi (Survey and Mapping Command) (1)
Specifications (F.K.49)
editData from N.V. Koolhoven-Vliegtuigen (1934-1940.,[1] Airwar:Koolhoven FK-49[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 11.7 m (38 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 35 m2 (380 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,330 kg (2,932 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,120 kg (4,674 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Major 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engines, 97 kW (130 hp) each
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 202 km/h (126 mph, 109 kn)
- Cruise speed: 178 km/h (111 mph, 96 kn)
- Range: 790 km (490 mi, 430 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,300 m (14,100 ft)
References
edit- ^ a b c DEN OUDEN, ALEX. "N.V. Koolhoven-Vliegtuigen (1934-1940)". www.alexdenouden.nl (in Dutch and English). EINDHOVEN - NEDERLAND. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Koolhoven FK-49". airwar.ru (in Russian). 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
Further reading
edit
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 561.
- "SOLELY for SURVEY The Koolhoven F.K.4.9 for the Dutch Government : Dark Room on Board". Flight. XXVIII (1405): 553. 28 November 1935. Retrieved 20 October 2018.