Fokker flies again

Exactly fourteen years ago the faculty of Aerospace Engineering went into mourning when the only Dutch aircraft manufacturer was declared bankrupt. TU Delft had strong ties with Fokker: many TU alumni were employed by Fokker, and aerospace engineers often combined their jobs at Fokker with research at TU Delft. Now however many at the aerospace faculty are applauding the re-emergence or resurrection of this once great aircraft manufacturer.

“This is great news”, says Ed Obert, emeritus professor of systems engineering and aircraft design, who was with Fokker from 1964-1996. “There have been several initiatives over the years, but this time it looks very promising that Fokker will indeed return. I’ve spoken to the new investors and I know they’re talking with a number of airplane companies and that things are looking good for them.” Obert was head of the aerodynamics department of the Fokker 100: “The plane feels a bit like my baby, although the plane has many fathers.”
NG Aircraft received a twenty million euro subsidy from the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs, although this funding must still be approved by the European Union. With this money the company wants to equip the existing Fokker 100s with new electronics, a new engine and new wingtips – all of which should make the plane eighteen percent more efficient.

The new Fokker 100 could compete with the Embraer and Bombardier. “They took over the market after Fokker’s bankruptcy”, explains professor Egbert Torenbeek, of TU Delft’s faculty of Aerospace Engineering. “It’s a smart move to bring an existing plane up to date, instead of building a new one, as it’s very expensive to build new airplanes and get them certified. The Fokker 100 has proven to be successful.” The plane can carry around a hundred passengers and is used for flights ranging from five hundred and three thousand kilometres. There are seven hundred Fokker 100s currently in use around the world.

The redesign and upgrades of the Fokker 100 would also create around 650 new jobs. It’s not yet clear if TU Delft will be affiliated with NG Aircraft. Obert: “I think that most of the work will be done in production.”
According to Obert and Torenbeek, Fokker getting back in business would be especially good news for students. “It might give them a great future at a Dutch airplane manufacturer”, Torenbeek says. “It may also lead to higher enrolments of students. When the Fokker 50 and 100 were being built, more students enrolled at the faculty. After the bankruptcy however there was a decline in students, although indeed over the last couple of years the faculty has welcomed more and more new students. I’m very curious how many will enrol in the coming years if Fokker rises again. And also what kind of opportunities it will offer for both present and former students of TU Delft.”

 Aan de hand van een vragenlijst over de woning berekent de Huurprijscheck hoeveel ‘punten’ de woning waard is. Aan het berekende aantal punten is een maximale huurprijs gekoppeld. Deze prijs wordt elk jaar wettelijk vastgesteld door de minister voor Wonen, Wijken en Integratie.