- Yes.
- No.
- In a future Dutch/BeNeLux techtree.
- In the French BeNeLux sub-tree
- Other (Please explain in the comments).
- I said “No” in the first question.
Hello everyone! Today I’m going to suggest the Koolhoven F.K. 51 with the Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engine for the Dutch Air Force!
More specifically, I’m suggesting the third-series of this aircraft. This one is armed with two machine guns unlike the previous series that had only one.
A Koolhoven F.K. 51 “Cheetah” of the 3rd-series
Source: Modelbrouwers.nl modelbouw • Toon onderwerp - 1/72 Koolhoven FK 51, Special Hobby -KLAAR-
Quick note:
Koolhoven didn’t give the various F.K. 51 variants any special names, they were all simply called F.K. 51. In order to properly suggest the different variants, I’m including the engine type within Quotation Marks next to the F.K. 51 name. And in case of this Cheetah version there are also slight differences between the three series the aircraft was made in, so I’m also including the series number.
History
Spoiler
A Koolhoven F.K. 51 “Cheetah” of the 3rd-series that has crashed
Source: Foto'sIf you want to read more about the Prototype, 1st and 2nd-series of the F.K. 51 then make sure to check out my previous post: [Link]
After the Dutch “Luchtvaartafdeling” (LVA for short, it’s the Dutch Air Force that operated in the homeland of the Netherlands) had made their first two orders of F.K. 51’s (One order of 10, and another of 15 aircraft), it was decided to order another 29 aircraft.
Unlike the previous 25 aircraft, that were ordered as trainers, these new 29 aircraft were ordered as light reconnaissance aircraft. For this role, these 29 aircraft of the 3rd-series F.K. 51’s were given a rear mounted machine gun on top of the existing machine gun that was in the upper left wing.
The 29 aircraft were given the registration numbers 400 to 428.
When the German invasion of the Netherlands started, the Dutch Air Command saw that the F.K. 51’s were still quite slow and lacked weaponry to really be used in the conflict, so they didn’t take any action during this time. Dispite the aircraft being labelled as light reconnaissance aircraft, they were however still used more as trainers.In the end almost all F.K. 51’s ended up getting destroyed during attacks, or were destroyed by their crews to avoid caputure.
A replica of a Koolhoven F.K. 51 of the 3rd-series has been made after the war, and it’s now on display in the National Militairy Museum in Soesterberg.
The replica of the Koolhoven F.K. 51 “Cheetah” of the 3rd-series
Source: Koolhoven F.K.51 - Wikipedia
Design
Spoiler
The rear machine gun on a Koolhoven F.K. 51 “Cheetah” of the 3rd-series
Source: IPMS Nederland - Koolhoven FK.51The Koolhoven F.K.51 was a two-seat light reconnaissance biplane. The aircraft operated by the LVA were fitted with the Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX engine producing 350 hp.
The straight line speed of the aircraft was 253 km/h at 2280 meters.
The aircraft of the 3rd-series were armed with two M.20 Lewis machine guns. One in the upper left wing, and another in the rear for the gunner to use.
Specifications
Spoiler
Crew: 2 (One Pilot, and one Radio Operator/Gunner)
Length: 7.85 m
Wingspan: 9 m
Height: 2.85 m
Empty weight: 1,450 kg
Full weight: 1,600 kg
Powerplant: Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX (350 hp)
Maximum straight line speed: 253 km/h at 2280 meters
Service ceiling: 6,300 m
Armament
Guns:
1 × 7.9 mm M.20 Lewis machine gun
1 × 7.9 mm M.20 Lewis machine gun (Rear gunner)
Ingame
Spoiler
As usualy with my Dutch vehicle suggestions, I ofcourse want to see this ingame in a Dutch or BeNeLux techtree. The F.K. 51 is a rather weak plane that could only work at the reserve tier of the game. The gunner can be usefull from time to time, but I think it would be outplayed by pretty much everything there, but it’s still an important plane to have from an historical point of view. But I’ll be honest, there are other aircraft that would be better to add first, like the Koolhoven F.K. 56.
Personally I would love to see this in a Dutch/BeNeLux techtree. This aircraft could be at the start of a Rank 1 attacker line in my opinion. But let me know where you would like to see this ingame in the poll above!
Ofcourse the BeNeLux has been added to France, so this is now the only option where Dutch Aircraft will go to. But it must be said that the Netherlands and France have nothing in common, and do not make sense to combine together ingame.
A Koolhoven F.K. 51’s “Cheetah” 3rd-series in fron of a Koolhoven hanger
Source: Foto's
So there you have it! Please make sure to vote in the poll above, and let me know what you think of this little fighter aircraft!
Sources
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Main sources:
- “Koolhoven, Nederlandse vliegtuigbouwer in de schaduw van Fokker” book by Theo Wesselink & Thijs Postma
- https://www.tracesofwar.nl/articles/249/Koolhoven-FK51.htm
Secondairy sources:
Extra sources:
Photos: