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[Mr.Craig]

The Koolhoven FK.58 

The prototype Koolhoven Model 1166 (later named F.K.58) first flew on 17 July 1938. The French placed an order for 50 F.K.58s in January 1939, and the Dutch also placed an order for 36 fighters based on the performance of the second prototype (the first having been destroyed in a crash) but powered by Bristol Taurus engines. Unfortunately, just 17 of the French order were completed at the Koolhoven works due to insufficient French-supplied engines and instruments, and they were subsequently sent to France fitted with Dutch equipment. Production was transferred to Nevèrs where just one more F.K.58 was produced. The completed fighters (7 F.K.58s, 11 F.K.58As) were fitted with French equipment and their loaner parts returned to the Netherlands.

The F.K.58 was originally procured for use as colonial fighters. Instead, the 13 fighters operational by May 1940 were manned by expatriate Polish pilots of Captain Walerian Jasionkowski's improvised escadre, the patrouille DAT (Défense Aérienne du Territoire) based at Salon and Clermont-Aulnat. As delivered, the fighters were not armed and the Poles had to acquire machine guns and fit them. From 30 May 1940, they were used in the defence of French cities, patrolling in Avignon - Marseille area, then from Clermont-Ferrand, without any encounters with the enemy. The type's service life was short-lived with only 47 or so operational sorties recorded; the unit had no confirmed victories, but at least one F.K.58 was lost. After the fall of France, all surviving airframes were scrapped.

General characteristics

    Crew: One
    Length: 8.7 m (28 ft 6.75 in)
    Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1.25 in)
    Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
    Wing area: 17.3 m² (186.2 ft²)
    Empty weight: 1,930 kg (4,255 lb)
    Loaded weight: 2,750 kg (6,063 lb)
    Powerplant: 1× Gnome-Rhône 14N radial engine, 768 kW (1,030 hp)

Performance

    Maximum speed: 505 km/h (314 mph)
    Cruise speed: 450 km/h (280 mph)
    Range: 750 km (466 mi)
    Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,810 ft)
    Rate of climb: 11.6 m/s (1,130 ft/min)
    Wing loading: 159 kg/m² (32.6 lb/ft²)
    Power/mass: 0.28kW/kg (0.17 hp/lb)

Armament

    4 x 7.5 mm FN-Browning machine guns in underwing fairings

[michel_boonstra1974]

This would be an interesting addition for sure.

[Kopfdorfer]

Now THAT's a forgotten aircraft.
Good post and interesting request.

Good Cutaway Drawing


Sectional Drawing


Marking Placement (French)


Nice Skin - serving in the Sudan






FS2004 Cockpit



Thanks,

Kopfdorfer

[singüe]

Inyeresting A/C never heard about it

[Pursuivant]

This would be an interesting and welcome addition, but historically it wasn't that great an airplane.

[michel_boonstra1974]

Not a great airplane indeed. In Holland Koolhoven's planes didn't have a good reputation. The Dutch Air Force tested the FK-58 extensively but despite Frits Koolhovens wild promises ("fastest fighter in the world!") it turned out to be a mediocre plane. The construction of the frame was kept as light as possible, therefore the FK-58 could only handle 4G. The scheduled Bristol Taurus engines were never made available so with 'lesser' engines, the planes performance was far from what was promised.
Compared to the Fokker D.XXI it was slightly faster in speed and more maneuverable, but the D.XXI outperformed it in climb, dive (the D.XXI could take 6G), frame strength and general handling characteristics (mind you, the D.XXI was already known as a 'tricky' crate).

Still.. Koolhoven's designs definitely had vision, have a look at his Koolhoven FK-55 fighter design (1937): 860 hp Lorraine Petrel engine in the back connecting via a long shaft two counter rotating propellers, pretty sleek lines, nose cannon, very innovative.
Unfortunately the bird flew only once as the engine turned out to be underpowered for this radical design, which made flying it near impossible.

[Pursuivant]

Not a great airplane indeed. In Holland Koolhoven's planes didn't have a good reputation.

Koolhoven was very much the "also ran" of Dutch aircraft manufacturing, especially compared to Fokker. While Anthony Fokker wasn't the nicest guy in the world, he and his company built some great aircraft.

Even so, the FK-58 would be an interesting plane to see in the game, if only because it isn't a late war or "fantasy-waffe" rocket sled. Mediocre airplanes need love, too!

Also, many "minor" Air Forces had serious problems with getting first-rate engines and this seriously affected the performance of their fighters. A "what if" FK-58 with a Bristol Taurus engine or maybe a Wright Cyclone R-1820 engine, might have been a competitive design.

[Vepe]

Can someone tell me if Finnish Air Force evaluated this plane, because I remember reading something about Koolhoven planes and the FiAF...

[saab ja26]

This indeed would be a very nice addition. Would make for interesting campaigns with this.

[Pursuivant]

Can someone tell me if Finnish Air Force evaluated this plane, because I remember reading something about Koolhoven planes and the FiAF...

I couldn't find anything, but it wouldn't surprise me if the FiAF had evaluated it. In 1939 Koolhoven probably would have been looking to export their products, and Finland was desperate for modern aircraft.

You might have been thinking of the FK.52 - which was a two-seater recce biplane. Finland operated two of them during the Winter War:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koolhoven_F.K.52

[Uufflakke]

As a kind of alternative there is a Koolhoven skin for the Hawk 75 A-3.
I think I got it from http://www.1java.org/ a long time ago.

[levine59]

During the winter war the France promiced to send 46 Fk-58 to Finnland as a help. (It's interesting because those time France itself has received only 18 planes).  But when Koolhoven fails to delivery (ordered 50) planes on time, also FAF miss them.  But FAF takes this promice so serilously that they even reserved serial numbers for Fk-58:s.  KN-501 ....