https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_Super_Universal
The Fokker Super Universal was an airliner produced in the United States in the
late 1920s, an enlarged and improved version of the Fokker Universal, fitted
with cantilever wings and an enclosed cockpit. It was subsequently also
manufactured under licence in Canada, and in Japan as the Nakajima Ki-6.
The Super Universal was a conventional, high-wing cantilever monoplane with a
fully enclosed flight deck and cabin and a fixed undercarriage. Improvements
over its forerunner included an enclosed cockpit and a new wing that eliminated
the requirement for struts, bringing it in line with the rest of Fokker's
designs. The preceding Fokker Universal was built with an open cockpit but many
were converted.
Construction was as per standard Fokker practice, with the wing being made
almost entirely of wood with two main spars and light ribs covered in thin
sheets of plywood. The fuselage was built up from welded steel tubes, largely
cross-braced with wires. Fairings, the floor and an internal bulkhead separating
the pilot from the cabin were wood. A triangular-shaped door gave the pilot
access to the cabin. The tail was also built up from steel tubing but used no
internal bracing. The main structural members were larger diameter tubes, while
smaller tubes gave the structure a small degree of camber. The standard
undercarriage consisted of a tailskid with divided main gear legs sprung with
bungee cords and attached to the wings and the fuselage, but floats or skiis
could also be fitted.
Role
Airliner
Manufacturer
Fokker-America
Canadian Vickers
First flight
March 1928
Number built
ca. 200
Developed from
Fokker Universal
Variants
Nakajima Ki-6
The Super Universal was received enthusiastically in the marketplace, selling
better than any other of Fokker-America's designs (some 80 aircraft), and
required the company to expand its factory space to meet demand. A further 15
aircraft were built by Canadian Vickers, and around 100 were built by Nakajima
with some of these Japanese aircraft seeing military service as the Ki-6. The
United States Navy also evaluated the Super Universal for military service,
under the designation XJA-1, but decided not to purchase the type (the JA
designation was later reused for the Noorduyn Norseman). The Fokker Universal
was popular as a bush plane and many found their way into the Canadian north.
The first production Super Universal was named the Virginia by Richard E. Byrd
and taken to the Antarctic in 1928. This aircraft was damaged after being ripped
from its tiedowns and thrown backwards over one kilometre in winds estimated to
have been at least 150 mph, and was abandoned, although Byrd subsequently
revisited it to salvage useful parts.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew: two
Capacity: six passengers
Length: 36 ft 11 in (11.25 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 8 in (15.44 m)
Height: 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
Wing area: 370 ft2 (34.3 m2)
Empty weight: 3,250 lb (1,474 kg)
Gross weight: 5,550 lb (2,517 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 138 mph (222 km/h)
Range: 680 miles (1,100 km)
Service ceiling: 19,340 ft (5,900 m)
Rate of climb: 950 ft/min (4.8 m/s)
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