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Fokker F.2 reborn at Aviodrome museum.

http://www.aviodrome.nl/nieuws/persberichten/2004/3augustus.asp
my own translation from the article

First KLM plane reborn at Aviodrome.
AUGUST 3RD 2004. The national aviation themepark the Aviodrome has gained a new attraction: Fokkers first passenger plane has been rebuild in authentiek state. The Fokker F.2 from 1920 was the first true passanger plane to fly with the KLM and also the first plane to land at Schiphol. Therefore the 6-seater is of great historic importance to Dutch aviation history. Building this exact replica took ten years. This week the completed plane will be displayed for then first time.

During the German bombings at Schiphol at the beginning of the 2nd world war the last original Fokker F.2 was destroyed. Now for the first time a F.2 can been seen in full glory. In 1994 a start was made with the reconstruction of this plane. An original engine was found in Australia. The hull was made by the Fokker factory, which still existed back then. Therefore this plane can be regarded as the last true Fokker. A close team of volunteers has done a lot of work to rebuild the plane. To do this old photos, drawings and even letters between KLM and Fokker from 1920 where used. The wooden wing, over 16 metres (+/- 50 foot) long, was build in Austria. The result is good; our F.2 is completely identical to the first Fokker plane of the KLM.

Pilot with one eye.
The F.2 at the museum shows the adventurous romance of the dawn of aviation. Passengers flew as if they where in a winged horse drawn coach. The pilot was even seated open in the air! The F.2 was back then the first true passenger plane with a closed cabin. Although the plane was not heated, the closed cabin did increase the comfort of the passengers that now no longer have to sit in the open air. The pilot did still sit in an open cockpit. The pilots back then did not have to meet strict qualifications as today. Therefore there was one KLM pilot with just one eye flying daily on the F.2.

http://www.aviodrome.nl/collectie/overzicht/images/fokker-f-2.jpg

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By: Stieglitz - 4th August 2004 at 09:03

Nice addition to a growing museum. Good job!

J.V.

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By: Andy in Beds - 3rd August 2004 at 20:58

Fokker….

Looks good.
another museun added to the ‘to do’ list.
Andy

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