Fokker F27
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| F27 Friendship | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A PIA F27 at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore in January, 2006 | |
| Type | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Fokker |
| Maiden flight | 1955 |
| Number built | 793 |
| Variants | Fairchild Hiller FH-227 Fokker F50 |
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.
Contents |
[edit] History
Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful DC-3 airliner. The manufacturer evaluated a number of different configurations before finally deciding on a high wing twin Rolls-Royce Dart engined layout with a pressurised cabin for 28 passengers.
The first prototype, registered PH-NIV, first flew on 24 November 1955. The second prototype and initial production machines were 3 ft (0.9 m) longer, addressing the first aircraft's slightly tail-heavy handling and also providing space for more passengers. These aircraft also used the more powerful Dart Mk 528 engine.
In 1956 Fokker signed a licensing deal with the US aircraft manufacturer Fairchild for the latter to construct the aircraft in the USA. The first U.S.-built aircraft flew on 12 April 1958. Fairchild also independently developed a stretched version, called the FH-227.
At the end of the Fokker F27s production, 793 units had been built (including 207 in the USA by Fairchild), which makes it the most successful turboprop airliner of all time.
Many aircraft have been modified from passenger service to cargo or express-package freighter roles.
In the early 1980s, Fokker developed a successor to the Friendship, the Fokker 50. Although based on the F27-500 airframe, the Fokker 50 is virtually a new aircraft with Pratt & Whitney Canada engines and modern systems. Its general performance and passenger comfort are far better than those of the F27.
[edit] Variants
The first production model of the Fokker F27, the F27-100, which seated 44 passengers, was initially delivered to Aer Lingus in September 1958.
Other versions of the Fokker F27 include:
- F27-100 - was the first production model;
- F27-200 - uses the Dart Mk 532 engine;
- F27-300 Combiplane - Civil passenger/cargo aircraft;
- F27-300M Troopship - Military transport version for Royal Netherlands Air Force;
- F27-400 - "Combi" passenger/cargo aircraft, with two Rolls-Royce Dart 7 turboprop engines and large cargo door;
- F27-400M - Military version for US Army with designation C-31A Troopship.
- F27-500 - The most ubiquitous Fokker F27 model the -500, had a 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) longer fuselage, a return back to the Dart Mk 528 engine, and accommodation for up to 52 passengers. It first flew in November 1967;
- F27-500M - Military version;
- F27-500F - A version of the -500 for Australia with smaller front and rear doors;
- F27-600 - Quick change cargo/passenger version of -200 with large cargo door.
- F27-700 - A F27-100 with a large cargo door;
- F27 Maritime - Unarmed maritime reconnaissance version;
- F27 Maritime Enforcer - Armed maritime reconnaissance version; and
- FH-227 - Fairchild Hiller stretched version.
[edit] Operators
- Fokker F27 operators - past and present
[edit] Airlines
Airlines that have operated the Fokker F27:
In August 2006 a total of 164 Fokker F27 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service around the world. Major operators include: Libyan Arab Airlines (14), Merpati Nusantara Airlines (11), WDL Aviation (11) and Mountain Air Cargo (11). Some 43 airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.[1]
[edit] Military Operators
Algeria: Algerian Air Force
Angola: Angolan Air Force
Argentina: Argentine Air Force
Australia: Australian Navy
Biafra
Bolivia: Bolivian Air Force
Côte d'Ivoire
Finland: Finnish Air Force
Ghana: Ghana Air Force
Guatemala: Guatemalan Air Force
India: Indian Coast Guard
Indonesia: Indonesian Air Force
Iran: Imperial Iranian Air Force, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Imperial Iranian Army, Islamic Republic of Iran Army
Iceland: Icelandic Coast Guard
Italy
Mexico
Myanmar: Myanmar Air Force
Netherlands: Royal Netherlands Air Force
New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Nigeria: Nigerian Air Force
Pakistan: Pakistani Air Force, Pakistani Navy
Peru: Peruvian Navy
Philippines: Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy
Senegal: Senegalese Air Force, Senegambia Air Force
Spain: Spanish Air Force
Sudan: Sudanese Air Force
Thailand: Royal Thai Navy
United States: United States Army Parachute Team
Uruguay: Uruguayan Air Force
Yemen
[edit] Government Agencies
- Australia: Department of Civil Aviation
Chad: Government of Chad
France: France Institute Geographique, Securité Civil- Iceland: Icelandic Coast Guard
- Iran: Iranian Government
- Netherlands: The Dutch Royal Flight
- New Zealand: Ministry of Transport, Navaids calibration flight
[edit] Organisations and Corporations
- F27 Friendship Association - The Netherlands
- Libyan Red Crescent
- National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC)
- Hawkins and Powers Aviation, Inc. - USA
- AirCruising Australia - An air based tour company
- Australia Post
[edit] Accidents
- TAA Fokker Friendship disaster - June 10, 1960 (Mackay, Queensland, Australia): 29 fatalities - this is still the deadliest Australian aircraft accident in history. The investigation was not able to determine a probable cause of this accident.
- During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, a Fokker F27 belonging to Pakistan International Airlines used temporarily as a military reconnaissance plane was lost over the Arabian Sea hunting for Indian missile boats.[1]
- On December 8, 1987, the Alianza Lima air disaster in which a Naval Fokker F27 that was transporting the Alianza Lima football club crashed in Lima, Peru, killing the whole team.
- On February 20, 2003, a military Fokker F27 crashed in northwestern Pakistan killing Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, his wife and 15 others.
- Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-688 carrying 45 people crashed 2-3 minutes after take off from Multan airport on July 10, 2006. There were no survivors. Engine fire was suspected as the cause of the crash.[2]
[edit] Specifications
{{aero-specs))
The following data apply to the F27-600 (Scandinavian Airlines System version):
- Length: 77 ft 2.3 in (23.5 m)
- Span: 95 ft 2 in (29.0 m)
- Wing area: 753 ft² (70.0 m²)
- Max. takeoff weight: 43,730 lb (19,730 kg)
- Normal cruising speed: approx. 260 mph (420 km/h)
- Max. range (with reserves): approx. 1200 miles (1,930 km)
- Max. operating altitude: 25,000 ft (7500 m)
- Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Dart Mk532-7 turboprops each delivering 1835 SHP/1990 SHP with water/methanol injection
[edit] References
- ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
[edit] External links
- Stork Aerospace Homepage
- F27 Friendship Association *Photo Gallery (in Dutch and English)
- External museum photo
- Fokker, a living history
- Fokker F27 Info
- FedEx Feeder F27-500 Photo
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
- ATR 42 and 72
- de Havilland Canada Dash 8
- Fairchild-Dornier 328 family
- Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
- Saab 2000 and 340
- Xian MA60/Xian Y-7/Antonov An-24
Designation sequence
Related lists
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable military accidents and incidents · Notable airline accidents and incidents · Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft
