In today's library (file) uploads, I came across a (unique) repaint of the very last Fokker a/c (a F70 twinjet Reg. PH-KZU) that KLM flew ~5 years ago, on October 28, 2017. This last F70 was delivered to KLM in April 1997, when the Fokker production line closed. KLM's final Fokker flight occurred, when the flight, from London, touched down for the last time, at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It's also worthy of note that KLM, founded on October 5, 1919, bears the distinction of being the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name (now as part of the Air France–KLM group). And it's also not unexpected that the very first aircraft, factory-delivered to KLM, in August 1920 (more than a century ago), were two Fokker F. IIs....Therefore, the flight of (PH-KZU) marked the nearly century-long (97 years, to be exact) loyal partnership between KLM and Fokker...!

So, recalling that Anthony Fokker (founder of the Fokker Company) was Dutch, it's, therefore, no surprise, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was the last to operate a Fokker Jet (a F70). The Flying Dutchman is undoubtedly one of the most enigmatic and eccentric personalities in aviation history... (and one of the favorite characters of yours truly...). For example, here is a statement, attributed to Fokker, that strikes me every time I read it, evoking my mixed emotions for him...🙂...Fokker wrote, "I have always understood airplanes much better than women...I have now learned, by bitter experience, that one must give a little too; in love one has to use one's brain just as much as in business, and perhaps even more..."...Oh well...Of course his singular "business" in life was to build a/c...and to build them well...where he engaged most of his (remarkable) acumen...

Holder of 3 nationalities (Dutch, German, US; He was born in Dutch East Indies, lived in Germany, and died in New York City), Fokker made significant contributions to the shaping of early aviation in all these countries. If one were to examine the (extensive) list of the Fokker planes built in 1920s/1930s/1940s (the so-called gloried years of Fokker), it's impossible not to be amazed by the mind-boggling number of variations and models. Of course, one of the most well-known is the the Fokker Dr.I (Dreidecker meaning "triplane" in German). It was the famous aircraft type which the Red Baron flew, became a legend in, and eventually died in. With its peculiar "triplane" structure, a short-lived (aircraft) design fashion of the day, in the illustrious company of Sopwith Triplane, it was one of Fokker's most memorable creations (see the first 3 shots, below). BTW, the blue livery, below, with white bird, Reg. (PH-EBF), displays the color of the Netherlands-Royal AF Historic Flight Fokker DR.1 Triplane (replica).

Regarding the duo twinjets (F70/F100), please note that, a bit unusually, the (smaller) F70 followed the (larger) F100 (i.e., F70, came as an afterthought, introduced 6-7 years after the F100). F70's introduction (October 1994) was unfortunately ill-timed because the Fokker company would file for bankruptcy less than 2 years later. A total of 47 F70 units were built. Nonetheless, inheriting the (same) advanced avionics package and digital (glass) flightdeck of F100, F70 was well-equipped with a host of modern avionics suite (Flight Management System, electronic flight instruments, lateral/vertical navigation capability (like MD11/B717, the "PROF" button was for "VNAV", see flightdeck MCP shot below), auto-throttle management, and CAT III (ILS) Autoland etc.) ...Please see one sample image, below, of its flightdeck (shot #5).

So, here is 80 years' (1917-to-1997) production span of Fokker a/c, from (PH-EBF) Dr.1 Triplane (where a "wing-walker" was required to steer the plane and thereby aid the pilot on takeoff roll...),...to the very last (modern) Fokker a/c built, to carry Anthony Fokker's name, the (PH-KZU) Fokker 70 twinjet, powered by two Rolls-Royce (Tay) engines (look for the "RR" logo in my close-up shots, below). The F70 was certainly a most advanced and ahead-of-its-times (Regional) jetliner...that had flown years before the CRJ/ERJ became popular.... but eventually would be overtaken by these newer types, in the marketplace...

[If you wish, you may watch in the first 25 secs of this (4m:16s) video, please search for "KLM says goodbye to Fokker", the RW (PH-KZU) F70, touching down, swiftly and impressively, in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, at night, for the last time, closing out the aviation era of the Flying Dutchman.... (Note: The rest of the video is about official celebrations) ...]

Hope you enjoy this collection of few images, below, of these two (iconic) classics...! 

It was all bits of good exploring...! Thanks for viewing...! 

Good flying yourselves...!!

Edited September 17, 20223 yr by P_7878

The Fokker Dr.I is one of my favorite triplane aircraft from the Great War! When i see this plane the only thing i think of is Richthofen.

Nice livery and shots! 😉 

Fine shots, and this aircraft is also missed in MSFS !

cheers 😉

Love that KLM paint !! .

Folks:

Many thanks for the thoughtful comments...Cheers...!!