Aircraft / Fokker F27 Friendship

Sep 26, 2024
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Fokker F27 Friendship turboprop in livery of JetStream Aerospace, shown in side view.

The Fokker F27 Friendship is a four-abreast twin engine, short range narrowbody regional turboprop airliner designed and produced by Fokker (Dutch: N.V. Koninklijke Nederlandse Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker; Royal Dutch Aircraft Factory Fokker) in the Netherlands. The most numerous post-war aircraft manufactured in the Netherlands, the Fokker F27 was also one of the most successful European airliners of its era.

The Fokker F27 was developed during the early 1950s as a successor to the earlier generation piston engine-powered airliners that were commonplace at the time, especially the very popular Douglas DC-3. A key feature of the F27 was its Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines, which produced substantially less vibration and noise and provided improved comfort for passengers, as well as cabin pressurization. The type made its maiden flight on 24 November 1955, and entered revenue service on 19 November 1958.

Under a licensing arrangement reached between Fokker and the U.S. aircraft manufacturer Fairchild, the F27 was also manufactured in the United States, and Fairchild went on to independently develop a stretched version of the airliner, which was designated as the Fairchild FH-227. During the 1980s, Fokker developed its own successor to the F27, the Fokker 50, which eventually replaced it.

Production of the Fokker F27 Friendship turboprop ended in 1987, after 586 examples had been built across several variants. The F27 type saw revenue service worldwide with dozens of airlines and governments on all continents except Antarctica. In addition to its role as a passenger and cargo aircraft, the F27 also operated in maritime reconnaissance, research, and skydiving missions. The type remains in limited cargo airline and military service as of 2024.

Reference: Wikipedia.

Stats

Stats displayed are for the Fokker F27 twin engine turboprop aircraft.

  • Name: Fokker 27 Friendship

  • Origin: Schiphol, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  • Role: Two Engine Narrowbody Turboprop Airliner

  • First Introduction: 19 November 1958

  • Status: Out of Production; In Limited Service

  • Cockpit Crew: 2 or 3

  • Seating: 44-52

  • Engines: 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart Mk.532-7

  • Cruise Speed: 250 knots (460 km/h; 290 mph)

  • Range: 1400 nmi (2600 km; 1600 mi)