Pander S.IV Panderjager

Pander S.IV Panderjager

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06/30/2009. In the early thirties the Dutch airline KLM had the monopoly in transporting air mail on their passenger flights between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. To compete with KLM, Lieutenant-Pilot D.L. ‘Dick’ Asjes took the initiative and financially backed by a number of large Dutch shipping companies and the Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij, the study committee Snelpost Nederland-Indië (Fast Mail Netherlands-Dutch East Indies) was established in 1933.

Pander was chosen to design and built a fast mail-aircraft, and the company designer Theodorus 'Theo' Slot designed the elegant S.IV. Powered by three 420 hp Wright R-975-E2 Whirlwind radials, the S.IV was flown for the first time by KLM (!) Chief-Pilot G.J. Geyssendorffer, on October 6, 1933.

A month later, December 9, the S.IV, named 'Postjager', left Schiphol for Batavia, Dutch East Indies, crewed by Geyssendorffer, Asjes, and wireless operator S. van Straaten. After a stop at Rome, Italy, the crew experienced engine problems and landed at Grottaglie, Italy, where an engine had to be changed. This engine had to be shipped in from the USA and after fitting it the S.IV left for Athena, Greece, on December 27. Athena to Batavia was flown in a remarkable time of 72 hours and 20 minutes.

Renamed 'Panderjager' and carrying racing number 6, the S.IV was one of the Dutch entries in the "Victorian Centenary Air Race" (London, England to Melbourne, Australia) - better known as 'The MacRobertson Air Race' - in 1934. It left Mildenhall, UK, on October 20, landing 36 hours later at Allahabad, India, when the left landing gear collapsed. Repairs were completed on the 26st, but upon takeoff it struck a tractor, crashed and burst into flames. Although the aircraft was lost, the crew escaped injuries.


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06/30/2009. In the early thirties the Dutch airline KLM had the monopoly in transporting air mail on their passenger flights between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. To compete with KLM, Lieutenant-Pilot D.L. ‘Dick’ Asjes took the initiative and financially backed by a number of large Dutch shipping companies and the Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij, the study committee Snelpost Nederland-Indië (Fast Mail Netherlands-Dutch East Indies) was established in 1933. Pander was chosen to design and built a fast mail-aircraft, and the company designer Theodorus 'Theo' Slot designed the elegant S.IV. Powered by three 420 hp Wright R-975-E2 Whirlwind radials, the S.IV was flown for the first time by KLM (!) Chief-Pilot G.J. Geyssendorffer, on October 6, 1933. A month later, December 9, the S.IV, named 'Postjager', left Schiphol for Batavia, Dutch East Indies, crewed by Geyssendorffer, Asjes, and wireless operator S. van Straaten. After a stop at Rome, Italy, the crew experienced engine problems and landed at Grottaglie, Italy, where an engine had to be changed. This engine had to be shipped in from the USA and after fitting it the S.IV left for Athena, Greece, on December 27. Athena to Batavia was flown in a remarkable time of 72 hours and 20 minutes. Renamed 'Panderjager' and carrying racing number 6, the S.IV was one of the Dutch entries in the "Victorian Centenary Air Race" (London, England to Melbourne, Australia) - better known as 'The MacRobertson Air Race' - in 1934. It left Mildenhall, UK, on October 20, landing 36 hours later at Allahabad, India, when the left landing gear collapsed. Repairs were completed on the 26st, but upon takeoff it struck a tractor, crashed and burst into flames. Although the aircraft was lost, the crew escaped injuries.