The first of Anthony Fokker’s aircraft had a name so suitable for the aeroplane itself that an arachnophobe would probably shudder when setting their eyes upon the design. The Spin, or Spider, first taking to the sky in 1910, was a tangle of wire frame with two wings and a propellor. It genuinely looked like a daddy long-legs. Despite its resemblance to one of the world’s most unfavourable insects, the experimental aeroplane was a hit and it planted the seed for Anthony to found his own aviation company, Fokker Aircraft in 1912.
The timing of Fokker’s launch of his company was fortunate. World War I was just about to break out; it would be the first war to involve air combat as well as ground and sea. As a result, the demand for aeroplanes was high. Fokker Aircraft was based in Germany, despite Anthony being of Dutch descent. As a result, the company supplied the German Air Force with the Fokker Eindecker, which proved to be extremely successful and reigned supreme over Europe’s airfields throughout the war. It was only when British and French designs started to be introduced that this supremacy was challenged.
During World War I, Fokker Aircraft supplied the Fokker D.Ir Triplane to many squadrons and pilots. One such pilot…
