The Fokker S-11 Instructor is a single-engine two-seater propeller aircraft designed and manufactured by the
Dutch aircraft manufacturer
Fokker. It first flew in December 1947 and went on production, serving in several Air Forces in the late 20th century, including with Dutch, Italian, Israeli, Paraguay, Bolivian and Brazilian armed forces. The S-12 was a tricycle landing version of this aircraft.
History
One of the first activities undertaken by Fokker after
World War II was the design of a new military aircraft for elementary flying training, the S-11 Instructor. An aircraft trader already placed orders for 100 of these aircraft in 1946, before construction had even begun. The first prototype flew at
Schiphol on 18 December 1947. During testing in early 1948 it was found that some aerodynamic changes had to be made to improve the handling of the aircraft. Later that year demonstration flights for several air forces followed and eventually many S-11s were sold to the
Royal Netherlands Air Force,
Israeli Air Force,
Italian Air Force,
Brazilian Air Force,
Paraguayan Air Force and
Bolivian Air Force. Some 170 aircraft were license built in Italy as the
Macchi M.416. A limited number of S-11 Instructors are still flying today. The Dutch Fokker Four foundation, dedicated to the preservation of the aircraft, operates four S-11s and amongst other activities still performs with them on
airshows.
A version of the S-11 fitted with
tricycle landing gear, the S-12, was built by Fokker Industria Aeronautica in Brazil, and was used by the
Brazilian Air Force as the T-22 Instructor.
In Italy, 178 were produced under license by Macchi, and they were called M.416.[1]
The aircraft is a two seat piston-powered monoplane with maximum take of weight of 1100 kg (2425 lb) and a top speed of 209 km/h (130 mph, 113 kts).[2]
PH-NDC on display at the
Aviodrome museum,
Lelystad Airport.[9] As the prototype S-12, the aircraft briefly carried the military registration E-41. In the 1950s and 1960s it became a test aircraft with
Delft University, who -through the "Nederlands Instituut voor Vliegtuigontwikkeling" and its aviation development department- used it for boundary layer suction research. In the mid-1970s it was withdrawn from use and donated to the Aviodome museum at
Schiphol Airport.[10]
Known airworthy aircraft
Netherlands
S-11-1
E-14, E-27, E-29 and E-39 (all former Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) planes, civilian registered as PH-AFS, PH-HOG, PH-HOK and PH-HOL respectively)[11]
Also known as 'The Fokker Four Foundation', an organization of Dutch volunteers that operate a fleet of four Fokker S-11 'Instructor' aircraft, that are able to fly and are shown to the public, at various
airshows around Europe. They are based at
The Aviodrome museum at
Lelystad Airport, Netherlands.[12]
E-6, E-20, E-24, E-32 ((all former RNLAF planes) and 197 (former Royal Netherlands Navy plane), civilian registered as PH-GRB, PH-HOI, PH-HOE and PH-GRY, are with the RNLAF Historic Flight at
Gilze-Rijen Air Base[13]
179/K (former RNLAF E-36, civilian registered as PH-ACG) civilian owned at Lelystad Airport[14] This plane crashed on 17 June 2023 and it is unknown whether it can be restored.[15]
E-25 (former RNLAF plane, ex OO-LMC, registered PH-SII) under restoration at Lelystad Airport[16]
United States of America
E-11 (former RNLAF plane, civilian registered as N911J)[17] Civilian owned at CCB Cable Airport, Upland California.
Specifications (S-11)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54.[18]