The Fokker Eindecker monoplane introduced the interruptor gear that allowed machine guns to fire through propeller arcs, a critical development in aerial combat. Anthony Fokker, an engineer and entrepreneur born in Blitar in 1890, navigated the complexities of twentieth-century aviation through a career spanning Germany, the Netherlands, and eventually the United States.
Early Mechanical Interests
Fokker moved to the Netherlands at age four, where he developed an early aptitude for mechanics. Rather than finishing high school, he focused on building model trains and steam engines. His interest in aeronautics began with the exhibition flights of Wilbur Wright in 1908. By 1910, he pursued technical training in Germany, moving from Bingen to Mainz to study automotive engineering. During this time, he constructed his first aircraft, known as de Spin, which was later destroyed in an accident caused by his business partner.
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After establishing his first firm, Fokker Aeroplanbau, near Berlin in 1912, he relocated production to Schwerin. During World War I, the German government seized control of his factories, though he remained the director. His company provided approximately 700 aircraft to the German air force, including the Eindecker, the Dr.1 triplane, and the D.VII biplane. Despite his success with military contracts, his tenure was marked by friction with inspectors and internal production disputes regarding quality control and design integrity.
Return to the Netherlands and Later Years
Following the armistice and the Treaty of Versailles, which restricted German aviation manufacturing, Fokker returned to the Netherlands. He shifted his focus to civil aviation, producing aircraft such as the F.VII/3m trimotor. His business dealings and design methodology remained subjects of historical debate due to various structural failures in his aircraft and allegations of poor factory oversight. He eventually moved to New York City, where he died in 1939 at the age of 49. He is buried at Westerveld.
Fast facts
- Born: 1890, Blitar
- Died: 1939, New York City
- Primary Occupations: Aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, pilot
- Citizenship: United States, Kingdom of the Netherlands, German Reich
- Burial site: Westerveld
- Major War Aircraft: Fokker Eindecker, Dr.1, D.VII
- Post-War Aircraft: Fokker F.VII/3m
- Awards: National Aviation Hall of Fame (1980)
Questions readers ask
What aircraft was Anthony Fokker famous for building?
He is primarily recognized for designing the Eindecker monoplane, the Dr.1 triplane, and the D.VII biplane during the First World War, and the F.VII/3m trimotor in the interwar period.
Where did Anthony Fokker spend his final years?
After leaving Germany following World War I, he lived in the Netherlands before eventually moving to New York City, where he passed away in 1939.
Achievements
- National Aviation Hall of Fame — 1980
- Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey
- Worked as aerospace engineer, engineer and entrepreneur
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