The Ongoing Mystery Aircraft Thread Part Deux.

Akemi made I noce model of the Kensan, which is why I recognised it.....

Over to another flying boat. It might have been here already as I have seen many flying boats in the past here:

VwYdYW5.jpg


Success,
Huub
 
Ahh, Huub, what a lovely floater. This is the Norman Thompson N.T.4, the early production model with a 2-pounder popgun mounted above the cabin. This apparently was never used, and it's not difficult too see why !
 
Actually, Uli, this purports to be the prototype, the N.V.I. F.K.31, but as it is from the notoriously unreliable Jane's of the period, you are probably correct ! over to you - :very_drunk:

(Any of our Dutch friends have chapter and verse on this one ?)
 
It was indeed a design from Frits van Koolhoven and built by the "Nationale Vliegtuig Industrie". The National Aviation Industry was founded by Wallaardt Sacré, a Dutch army officer with the help of Vickers. In 1922 Frits van Koolhoven joined the NVI after their original designer Joop Carley resigned.

Like many of Frits Koolhoven's designs the FK.31 was received very well, but soon turned out to become a disappointment. The Finnish Air Force ordered 12, but the aircraft wasn't very well received by the pilots and the 12 aircraft only made 6 (!) flying hours. As the NVI encountered a lot of production problems with the FK.31 the development of the aircraft was abandoned.

In France a single prototype with a Gnome et Rhone 9Ac engine was developed, as the De Monge M.101 C2. But the aircraft was not taken in production.

Lefty, thanks for bringing another odd Dutch design under the attention. The model clearly shows the hand of Frits van Koolhoven and looks very much like the BAT FK.23 Bantam by the same designer.

Cheers,
Huub
 
Based on the shape of the rear wings and elevators I had expected a Dutch or German manufacturer.....

Cheers,
Huub
 
Of course you are right...... but I must confess I had never heard of the aircraft until now :biggrin-new:

Cheers,
Huub

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Samoletna Fabrika Bulgarski Kaproni, Robert - (I haven't attempted what my old neighbour used to call 'Acrylic' script.) I am indebted to 'Aircraft Manufacture in Bulgaria' by Dimitar Nedialkov, sent to me by the author. While the Bulgarians may have built sturdy aircraft, they are utterly useless at bookbinding - it is now 190 pages of loose-leaf documents !

Here's another biplane - the more discerning amongst you will immediately twig that this isn't quite as old as it looks.......
 

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