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Fokker S.14 Machtrainer

1955 COLD WAR

History

With the increasing use of turbojet powered aircraft at the military level, the need for a dedicated jet trainer arose. One of the first aircraft to take on this role was the Dutch Fokker S. 14 "Mechanical Trainer", the design of which entered the market in the early 1950s with the transition from propeller to turbojet. The two-seater, powered by a British Rolls-Royce Derwent turbojet, was not a complete success and was only adopted by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNAF), with 21 prototypes built (including one) .

The aircraft's contemporaries are the American Cessna T-37 "Tweet" (1,269 built) and Lockheed T-33 "Meteor" (6,557 built) and the French Fouga "Magister" (1,269 built) 929) - have achieved greater success than the Dutch offer.

Like other aircraft of this type, the Machtrainer originated in the 1940s, when jet technology continued to improve and became commonplace. The powertrainer is a joint venture with engine maker Rolls-Royce, which wants to market its Derwent turbojet to the masses. This resulted in the "S.

14", which first flew as a prototype on May 19, 1951.

The exterior design of the aircraft was traditional, like the jet trainers of the day - the main exception being the two crew members sitting side by side. The single engine, buried in the fuselage, is drawn in through a circular, bifurcated, nose-mounted air intake and exhausted through a traditional ring in the stern.

The main aircraft is located low on the side of the fuselage and is V-shaped. The cockpit was placed behind the clipped nose section. The empennage consists of a vertical fin and a low horizontal plane. The landing gear is a tricycle arrangement - wheeled and retractable.

When fully constructed, the Power Trainer has a barrel length of 43.7 feet, a wingspan of 39.3 feet, and a height of 15.4 feet. Curb weight is 8,300 lbs, while total weight hits 12,000 lbs.

The Rolls-Royce Derwent 8 Series turbojet produces 3,450 pounds of thrust and provides the platform with a top speed of 450 mph, a cruising speed of nearly 365 mph, a range of up to 600 miles and a service ceiling of up to 37,700 feet (The cockpit and its two crew members need oxygen and pressurization). The climb rate is 3,210 feet per minute.

RNAF adopted the model with a contract order for 20 airframes to advance the project on the global stage. Entering service in the industry in 1955, and despite some worldwide interest, the S. 14 never managed to gain a foothold on the world market despite growing demand for advanced jet trainer types. This leads to the twenty examples mentioned above plus a prototype to implement.

The Dutch S. 14 coaches flew to 1967 and were eventually dropped - dutifully filling their role on the air.