Fokker D.XVII

History

After the Fokker D.XVI, registered  F.32 for NEIAF had crashed, Fokker decided to design a new fighter, equipped with the Curtiss Conqueror engine. This aircraft also received the registration F.32
The first flight was made on November 27, 1931.
The machine was completely redesigned and was definite not a version of the D.XVI with a line engine. Especially the fuselage was much slimmer. After the test, the D.XVII was shipped to the Netherlands East Indies in February 1932.

The device was certainly faster and a better climber than the Curtiss Hawk I, but the NEIAF preferred American aircraft, which were considered to be more reliable than the Fokker aircraft.

In August 1932 the Netherlands Ministry of Defence decided unexpectedly to purchase the D.XVII rather than an additional order from the D.XVI.
The LVA now showed a preference for inline engines, which enabled a slimmer thus faster aircraft.
 As engine was chosen for the Rolls Royce Kestrel IIS, already in use for the Fokker C.X. This resulted in better performance than the Curtiss Conqueror, especially at higher elevations.
 Another striking difference compared to the Indian machine was the propeller was different. The on of the LVA machines had a diameter of 3,20 m versus a diameter of 2,642 m for the Indian machine.

On December 31, 1932 ten examples were ordered, of which eight were to be fitted with the Rolls Royce Kestrel IIS of 590 hp. One was to be equipped with a Lorraine Petrel 12Hfrs of 800 hp and the other with a Hispano-Suiza 12 XBrs of 760 hp.
 In both cases the engines were made available by manufacturers.

 The first machine for the LVA made its first flight in August 1933. In November/December 1933 all Kestrel aircraft delivered. The Fokker D.XVII with Hispano made its first flight on February 16, 1934; the Lorraine on March 1, 1934.