Airliner · Civil · Netherlands
Fokker F27 Friendship
- November 24, 1955
- First flight
- 1958
- Introduced
- In service
- Status
- 586
- Units built
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The Fokker F27 Friendship is a Dutch twin-turboprop regional airliner that first flew on 24 November 1955 and became one of the most successful European airliners of its era. Fokker built 586 aircraft through 1987, and the type was also produced under licence in the United States.
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History
Fokker designed the F27 in the years after the Second World War as a modern replacement for the Douglas DC-3, which still dominated commuter aviation at the time. The company settled on a pressurised high-wing monoplane powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops, a combination that gave regional operators far better operating economics and passenger comfort than the piston types it replaced. The prototype made its maiden flight on 24 November 1955.
Aer Lingus became the first airline to operate the Friendship, which entered service in 1958. American interest in the design led to a licence agreement with Fairchild, which built the type in the United States as the F-27 and later developed the stretched FH-227. By the time Fokker's own production line closed in 1987, 586 aircraft had been completed there, making the F27 one of the most successful European airliners of its era, flown by airlines and air forces across the world.
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In 1987 Fokker replaced it on the production line with the Fokker 50, a modernised development of the same airframe. Long after production ended, a handful of F27s remained active on cargo and utility work, a measure of the design's durability.
Variants
| F27-100 | Fairchild F-27 | F27-200 | F27 200-MAR | B.LL.1 | B.TPh.1 | F27-300 Combiplane | F27-300M Troopship | F27-400 | F27-400M | F27-500 | F27-500F | F27-500M | F27-600 | F27-700 | F27 Maritime Enforcer | Fairchild F-27A | Fairchild F-27B Combi | Fairchild Hiller FH-227 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First flight | March 23, 1958 | April 12, 1958 | September 20, 1959 | March 25, 1976 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Aircraft type | Regional turboprop airliner | Regional turboprop airliner | Regional turboprop airliner | Maritime patrol turboprop | Military turboprop transport | Military turboprop transport | Regional passenger/cargo turboprop | Military turboprop transport | Regional passenger/cargo turboprop | Military turboprop transport | Regional turboprop airliner | Regional turboprop airliner | Military turboprop transport | Regional passenger/cargo turboprop | Regional passenger/cargo turboprop | Armed maritime patrol aircraft | Regional turboprop airliner | Regional passenger/cargo turboprop | Regional turboprop airliner |
| Powerplant | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 turboprops of 1,279 kW each; the type certificate also covers the Dart 511 and 511-7E. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 turboprops of 1,279 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW (2,050 shp) each, with water-methanol injection for take-off; the type certificate clears Dart engines up to the 552-7R. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each; the manufacturer quotes 2,210 shp per engine for this patrol version. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 turboprops of 1,279 kW each, the same powerplant as the Mk 100. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 turboprops of 1,279 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each, the Mk 200 powerplant. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops (532-7, 535-7, 536-7, 551-7 or 552-7 series per the type certificate). | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 turboprops of 1,279 kW each, the Mk 100 powerplant. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 turboprops of 1,529 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 turboprops of 1,279 kW each. | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7L turboprops of 1,700 kW (2,300 shp for take-off) each, with four-blade Rotol constant-speed propellers. |
| Powerplant | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.6 Mk 514-7 | 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7L |
| Power per engine | 1,715 hp | 1,715 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 1,715 hp | 1,715 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 1,715 hp | 2,050 hp | 2,050 hp | 1,715 hp | 2,280 hp Best value in this row |
| Length | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 25.1 m | 25.1 m | 25.1 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 23.6 m | 25.5 m Best value in this row |
| Wingspan | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m | 29 m Best value in this row |
| Height | 8.5 m | — | 8.5 m | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8.7 m Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8.4 m |
| Wing area | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row | 70 m² Best value in this row |
| Empty weight | — | — | 12,148 kg | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11,230 kg | 11,204 kg | — | — | 10,336 kg Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | 10,398 kg |
| MTOW | 18,370 kg | — | 20,410 kg Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19,730 kg | 19,773 kg | — | — | 20,410 kg Best value in this row | 18,370 kg | — | — | — | 19,731 kg |
| Top speed | — | — | 509 km/h Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | 475 km/h | 470 km/h | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 473 km/h |
| Max speed altitude | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4,572 m |
| Cruise speed | — | — | 480 km/h Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | 435 km/h | 460 km/h | — | — | 480 km/h Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | 430 km/h |
| Cruise altitude | — | — | 6,096 m | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6,096 m | — | — | — | — | 7,620 m |
| Service ceiling | — | — | 8,992 m | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9,000 m Best value in this row | — | — | — | 8,992 m | — | — | — | — | 8,500 m |
| Initial climb rate | — | — | 7.4 m/s | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7.4 m/s | — | — | 7.5 m/s | — | — | — | — | 7.9 m/s Best value in this row |
| Range | — | — | 1,926 km | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,810 km | 2,600 km Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,056 km |
| Ferry range | — | — | 2,600 km | 5,000 km Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,663 km |
| Combat radius | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | — | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | — | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row |
| Endurance | — | — | — | 720 min Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | 324 min | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Range conditions | First production series; with Dart 514-7 engines the certified maximum take-off weight rises to 18,370 kg. | The extra fuel over the Dutch Mk 100 was Fairchild's own contribution, later adopted by Fokker as well. | 1,926 km with maximum payload and up to 2,600 km in maximum-fuel configuration, cruising at 480 km/h at 6,096 m (20,000 ft). | Fuel for 10 to 12 hours of endurance, or 5,000 km of range, on coastal patrol, fishery protection and search-and-rescue duties. | Airframe and performance of the F27-400 the designation derives from. | Airframe and performance of the F27-200 the designation derives from. | Shares airframe and performance with the Mk 100; usable payload depends on the passenger/freight mix carried. | Same reach as the short-fuselage civil airframe; the aircraft flew transport and paratroop missions, not combat sorties. | Performance equivalent to the Mk 200; usable range falls as the freight fraction grows. | With a 4,765 kg payload the range settles at 1,300 km; the Royal Thai Air Force flew it on transport, target-towing and search-and-rescue duties. | 2,600 km of range and roughly 5.4 hours of endurance at normal cruise; maximum level speed of 470 km/h. | Shares the stretched airframe and the performance of the Mk 500. | Performance of the stretched Mk 500 airframe; it is not a combat aircraft. | Cruise of 480 km/h and an 8,992 m ceiling; quick reconfiguration mattered more than range. | Mk 100 performance; with Dart 514-7 engines the certified maximum take-off weight reaches 18,370 kg. | Shares airframe, engines and fuel capacity with the F27 200-MAR, giving 10 to 12 hours of endurance. | Performance of the matching Mk 200. | Performance of the short airframe with RDa.6 engines. | 1,056 km with maximum payload and up to 2,663 km with full tanks; economic cruise at 7,620 m (25,000 ft) and maximum speed at 4,572 m (15,000 ft). |
| Armament | None | None | None | None: unarmed maritime reconnaissance version. | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | Two stub pylons on the fuselage sides and six underwing pylons for torpedoes, depth charges and rocket pods (Royal Thai Navy example); maximum weapon load not published in the sources. | None | None | None |
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| Payload | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6,000 kg Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5,080 kg |
| Cargo capacity | Pressurised 44-seat cabin, without the large cargo door that identifies the Mk 700. | US equivalent of the F27 Mk 100: interior rearranged for 40 seats, increased fuel capacity and weather radar in a lengthened nose. | Pressurised cabin seating 44 in the standard layout and up to 52 in high density, with forward and rear holds. | Stations for up to six sensor operators, search radar in a belly radome, long-range inertial navigation and external tanks under each wing. | Royal Thai Armed Forces designation (บ.ลล.๑) for the F27-400. | Royal Thai Armed Forces designation (บ.ตผ.๑) for the F27-200. | Combiplane: reinforced cabin floor, tie-down rings and a large cargo door ahead of the wing on the port side. | Royal Netherlands Air Force military transport, with an enlarged cargo door and an all-metal cabin floor. | Combiplane on the Mk 200 airframe: large forward cargo door and metal cabin floor. | Military version of the Mk 400, flying since April 1965: 6,000 kg of freight, 46 paratroops, or 24 stretchers with nine attendants. | Fuselage stretched by 1.50 m over the Mk 200: 52 seats as standard and up to 60 in high density. | Mk 500 variant delivered to Australia, with smaller front and rear doors. | Military version of the stretched Mk 500, used for personnel and materiel transport. | Final production version: Mk 200 fuselage with the Mk 300/400 cargo door and an optional roller-track interior for quick passenger-to-freight changes. | Mk 100 fitted with the large forward cargo door, but without the Combiplane's reinforced floor. | Maritime mission suite plus weapons capability; the four aircraft delivered to the Royal Thai Navy carry it without reaching full Enforcer standard. | US equivalent of the F27 Mk 200: 40 seats as standard and up to 52 in high density. | US equivalent of the F27 Mk 300 Combiplane, with a reinforced floor and a large cargo door in the forward fuselage. | Fuselage stretched 1.83 m over the F-27: 56 seats as standard, 44-52 in the typical layout, or 5,080 kg of payload, with an enlarged hold between flight deck and cabin. |
| Crew | 2 Best value in this row | 2 Best value in this row | 2 Best value in this row | 6 | — | — | — | 2 Best value in this row | — | 2 Best value in this row | 2 Best value in this row | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 Best value in this row | — | 2 Best value in this row |
| Passengers | 44 | 40 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | 44 | 52 | — | — | 52 | 44 | — | 52 | — | 56 Best value in this row |
| Units built | 85 | 128 Best value in this row | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 78 |
Images
![[4K] Fokker F27 Friendship/ C-31A Troopship ex-US Army Golden Knights landing @ Lelystad](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4vmrbR7cjyg/hqdefault.jpg)
