As the team at Vintage Aviation News continues to grow, we are excited to reconnect with some of the restoration and rebuild projects we’ve been following over the years. One such project that had temporarily fallen off our radar is the Fokker D.XXI Replica being built in the Netherlands [Check out our previous articles HERE]. However, we missed its first flight in 2022, as reported by Aeo.Key, we’re thrilled to share that the aircraft has since completed its test flight program and has been flying without any issues.
Currently, there is only one original Fokker D.XXI still in existence out of the 148 built. This rare aircraft is displayed at the Finnish Air Force Museum in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä, Finland. Finland originally received seven production models from Fokker and later built an additional 93 under license. The D.XXI played a crucial role in Finland’s defense against the Soviet Union during both the Winter War of 1939-1940 and the Continuation War from 1941 to 1944. Several Finnish pilots achieved ace status flying the D.XXI, and the surviving aircraft, serial FR-110, is credited with downing ten enemy aircraft.
Interestingly, both Denmark and Spain also built the D.XXI under license. Denmark produced ten aircraft in addition to three from Fokker, while Spain had fifty D.XXIs on the production line intended for the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War. Unfortunately, their factory was overtaken by Fascist forces before any of these planes could be completed.
The Dutch Air Force operated 36 D.XXIs, but only the remains of one example survive. This aircraft was reportedly shot down by Luftwaffe Bf 110s near Nieuwkoop, Holland on May 11, 1940. In 1993, a local group called the Crash Foundation excavated the wreck site and reconstructed the forward fuselage, which is now displayed at a small museum in Aalsmeerderbrug. Additionally, a full-sized replica is on display at the Nationaal Militair Museum in Soesterberg, Netherlands, located at the former Soesterberg Air Force Base.
In 2014, restoration expert Jack Van Egmond, known for his experience in aircraft maintenance, took on the ambitious project of building a faithful replica of the Fokker D.XXI at his facility at Hoogeveen Airport in the Netherlands. While many D.XXIs were powered by the Bristol Mercury radial engine, some were upgraded to use the Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior. Van Egmond chose to equip his replica with the more widely available Wright R-1820 Cyclone engine. For those interested in following the progress of this remarkable project, the aircraft’s operators maintain a Facebook page where you can stay updated on its activities. Visit the Fokker D.XXI Facebook page for more information.
