1911 - Anthony Fokker improved and commercialized the 'Spin' designed by Jacob Goedecker, creating the first Fokker plane. 1913 - Spin III purchased by the German military authorities. During WW1, Fokker developed a gearing system whereby mahineguns could fire bullets through the propellor blades of aircraft. 1930 - 172 out of the 596 aircraft operated by European airlines were Fokkers. 1939 - Anthony Fokker died.