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Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday 30 April 2018, Wilko Jonker died after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic modeling were his hobby and on this website he shared all the knowledge he has collected over the years. His hobby has been able to distract him from the persistent disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

This website will be maintained by different people for as long as possible, so that other enthusiasts can continue to benefit from extensive content.

Felixstowe F2A

Published: Tuesday, 09 November 2010 11:29 | Print | | Hits: 9044

History

In 1914 the Glenn Curtiss Company developed a flying boat. The Curtiss H-4 was developed from this aircraft.

The British RNAS officer John Porte had good connections with Curtiss and he did much research in finding the correct hull. The H-4 had difficulties in taking off, especially with full load.
Several hulls were tested, often with one aircraft. [this is the reason why several photos exist of aircraft with the same serial equipped with different hulls. In the end the Curtiss H-8 was developed, which was ordered by the RNAS is rather large quantities.
Development of the hull still continued and also at RNAS Station Felixstowe several tests with modified hulls were done, resulting in the Felixstowe F.1

Curtiss had developed the Curtiss H.12, with an improved hull. Also the Curtiss H-12 was used for several tests at RNAS station Felixstowe.

Porte also designed a new hull for the Curtiss H.12. The aircraft, designation Felixstowe F.2, equipped with this new hull and two 345 hp Rolls Royce Eagle engines and the wings and tail of the Curtiss H.12 made its maiden flight in July 1916.

In the end 100 examples were built.

 

Technical information Curtiss H-12
Dimensions:
Length: 14,02 m Wingspan: 28,34 m
Height: 5,09 m Wing area: 102,9 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 2880 kg Max. start weight: 4124 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 149 km/u Rate of climb: - m/min
Range: - km Service ceiling: - m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Rolls Royce Eagle I rated 250 hp each.
Crew: Three men
Armament: Three machine guns

 

Technical information Felixstowe F.2A
Dimensions:
Length: 14,09 m Wingspan: 29,12 m
Height: 5,33 m Wing area: - m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 3424 kg Max. start weight: 4979 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 151 km/u Rate of climb: - m/min
Range: 6 hrs Service ceiling: - m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Rolls Royce Eagle VIII rated 345 pk each
Crew: Four men
Armament: Three machine guns

 


Two aircraft were interned and used by the RNlNAS, Felixstowe F-2A, N4551, receiving serial L-1, and Curtiss H-12, receiving serial L-2
Very little is known about these aircraft in Dutch service. They were withdrawn from use very soon.

Een Curtiss Felixstowe F-2A martiem patrouillevliegboot L-1 (1918-1918) op het Marinevliegkamp 'De Mok
Felixstowe F-2A, serial L-1, at Naval air station 'De Mok", Texel.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Een Curtiss Felixstowe F-2A martiem patrouillevliegboot L-1 (1918-1918) op de helling op het Marinevliegkamp 'De Mok
Felixstowe F-2A,serial L-1 at naval air station 'De Mok", Texel.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


Serial Constr.nr. RFC Serial Date in service Date out of service Notes
L-1   N4551 04-06-1918 12-1918 Felixstowe F-2A.
December 1918 struck of charge
L-2   8689 02-10-1918 12-1918 Curtiss H-12;
December 1918 struck of charge

 


As far as I know no model of the Curtiss H-12 is released, perhaps it can be converted from an Felixstowe F.2A model.

1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Aeroclub
    • Kit 308: Felixstowe F.2A; I don't know whether this is the right version
  • Roden
    • Kit 047: This is a late version with open cockpits and a gunner position on the upper wing.
    • Kit 049: Curtiss H16, a license built Felixstowe F2A
    • Kit 019: Early version of the F-2A with closed cockpits. This is the version which was used by the RNlAS.
    • Kit 014: Probably an early version.

Modelling add-on

  • Aeroclub
    • Set E069: Rolls Royce Eagle V12 (Felixtowe F2A)
    • Set E070: Wooden 4 Bladed Prop (Felixtowe F3)
  • Extra Tech
    • Set EX72148: Detailset Felixtowe F2A (Roden)
  • Part Etchings
    • Set S72-221: Detailset Felixtowe F2A (Roden)

Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • --
    • Kit --: --

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Set --: --

Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --

 


Hardly any photo's are known of these aircraft in RNlNAS service.
The aircraft were rather dark, most probable the standard RNAS paint scheme. This was a black anti-fouling" on the hull. Other parts were painted with copal-varnish.
From mid 1916 the aircraft of the RNAS were camouflaged, upper surfaces of wings, fuselage, etc. were khaki.

 

Scheme Colour name FS number BS number Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air
Standard #1 Underside Fuselage Black - Dark brown ~7078   33   70.950 71.057
Remaining parts Khaki or olive green 9PC10)     170   70.871 71.029

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

 

Felixstowe-F2A-SMALL
(Possible) Colour scheme Felixstowe F2A.

 


Literature.

Nederlandse Marinevliegtuigen Thijs Postma & Nico Geldhof Pag. 9 1978 Uitgever Omniboek, 's Gravenhage
Aircraft Archive Aircraft of World War One; Volume 3.   Pag. 22 - 25 1989 Uitgever: Argus Books, Hempsted
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
Windsock datafile 82: Felixstowe F.2A J.M. Bruce   2000 Uitgever AMBooks, Bromley, Kent
Air Enthusiast no.80, The Historical Aviation Journal: Unexpected Windfalls Bart van der klaauw Pag. 54 - 59 1999 Uitgever Key Publishing Plaats: Stamford
85 JAAR Marineluchtvaartdienst in beeld; Van Farman tot NH 90 Helikopter Peter Korbee pag. 21 2002 Uitgever Korbee MLD Promotie, Valkenburg

 

Websites.