03/15/2021. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "In October 1923, an evening aeronautical engineering course was started at the Middelbare Technische School (MTS, Secondary Technical School) in Amsterdam. This was led by Ir. F.H. (Fred) Reyneker, engineer at the Rijks-studiedienst voor de Luchtvaart (RSL, Government Service for Aeronautical Studies). To enable the students to demonstrate their practical competence, ten students from this course started the construction of an aircraft, designed by Reyneker, assisted by Mr. Lefèbvre, on July 21, 1924.

Due to lack of space at the MTS, the construction took place in the tin factory of the famous Royal Chocolate Factory Van Houten and Zoon N.V. at Weesp, only a few miles south-east of Amsterdam. Van Houten provided the tools and machinery, the Fokker and Pander aircraft factories provided the materials. After the summer holidays it were only two students, D.J. Heuvelink and D.C. Varenkamp, that continued the construction under guidance of Ir. Cees Wijdooge and Reyneker.

(Johan Visschedijk Collection)

The RE.II was a two-seat semi-cantilever high-winged aircraft of wooden construction, covered with plywood and fabric. Power plant was a 35 hp Anzani three-cylinder air-cooled radial engine.

(Johan Visschedijk Collection)

A CofR was requested on August 19, 1924, the registration H-NACP was allotted, but the CofR No. 50 was not issued until April 23, 1926. The aircraft was registered to Reyneker, as manufacturer was awkwardly stated: "Course aeronautical engineering".

On June 29, 1925, the Belgian test pilot J.C.L.J. Raparlier made the first flight of the RE.II from Schiphol Airport. Painted completely yellow, the aircraft soon was nicknamed "Kanarie" ("Canary"). A number of pilots flew the aircraft, one of them, Wim Oyens stated the "Kanarie" was a good aircraft, although by the little Anzani engine it was a bit underpowered.

Reyneker RE.II with 45 hp Anzani engine

Later the engine was replaced by a 45 hp Anzani six-cylinder air-cooled radial engine. In August 1927, the aircraft was inspected at the Pander factory in The Hague and on the thirtieth of that month it was test flown at Waalhaven airport in the south of Rotterdam.

On February 28, 1929, the aviation authorities started to reregister all existing aircraft as the nationality code for Dutch aircraft changed from 'H' to the present 'PH'. However, the RE.II did not receive a new CofR, as Reyneker himself did not consider the aircraft airworthy and rejected it. The ultimate fate of the aircraft is unknown."