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F27 Friendship
Role	Airliner
National origin	Netherlands
Manufacturer	Fokker
First flight	24 November 1955
Introduction	19 November 1958
Status	Active, not in production
Produced	1955-1987
Number built	586
Variants	Fairchild F-27/FH-227
Developed into	Fokker 50

The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the defunct Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.

Design and development [edit]

Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner. The manufacturer evaluated a number of different configurations before finally deciding on a high-wing twin Rolls-Royce Dart engine layout with a pressurised cabin for 28 passengers.

The first prototype, registered PH-NIV, first flew on November 24, 1955. The second prototype and initial production machines were 0.9 m (3 ft) longer, addressing the first aircraft's slightly tail-heavy handling and also providing space for four more passengers, bringing the total to 32. These aircraft also used the more powerful Dart Mk 528 engine.

Production [edit]

Aer Lingus was the first airline to operate the F27 Friendship

Braathens SAFE F-27-100 Friendship in August 1974

The first production model, the F27-100, was delivered to Aer Lingus in November 1958. Other early Friendship customers included Braathens SAFE, Luxair, Ansett, New Zealand National Airways Corporation, Trans Australia Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

In 1956, Fokker signed a licensing deal with the US aircraft manufacturer Fairchild for the latter to construct the F27 in the USA. The first U.S.-built aircraft flew on April 12, 1958. Fairchild also independently developed a stretched version, called the FH-227. Most sales by Fairchild were made in the North American market.

Basic price for an RDa.6 powered F-27 in 1960 was £239,000.^[1]

At the end of the Fokker F27’s production in 1987, 586 units had been built (plus another 207 F-27s and FH-227s in the USA by Fairchild), more than any other western European civil turboprop airliner.^{[citation needed]}

Many aircraft have been modified from passenger service to cargo or express-package freighter roles and remain in service in 2009. The last major cargo user of the F27 in the United States was FedEx Express, as cargo "feeder" aircraft. These were retired and replaced by ATR42 and ATR72 aircraft by the end of 2009, with the last of the aircraft being donated to Hickory Aviation Museum. The United States Army Parachute Team continues to use a C-31A Troopship for its diving exhibitions in 2011.^[2]

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 were improved over the F27.

Variants [edit]

F27-300M Troopship of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in the mid 1970s

• F27-100 - was the first production model; 44 passengers.
• 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, still in use in 2011.
• F27-500 - The -500, had a 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) longer fuselage, a return 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 200-MAR - Unarmed maritime reconnaissance version.
• F27 Maritime Enforcer - Armed maritime reconnaissance version.
• FH-227 - Fairchild Hiller stretched version.

Operators [edit]

Map of F27 operators. Light blue indicates civilian use. Dark blue indicates civilian and military use. Red indicates military use.

Notable accidents and incidents [edit]

• Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538 - June 10, 1960 Mackay, Queensland, Australia: 29 fatalities - this is still the deadliest civilian Australian aircraft accident in history. The investigation was not able to determine a probable cause of this accident. The accident was critical in the development of the flight recorder to record parameters to aid investigations of future airliner accidents.

• On May 7, 1964, Pacific Air Lines Flight 773 crashed into a hill in San Ramon, California, after a suicidal passenger killed both pilots and then turned the gun on himself. All 44 people on board were killed.

• On March 17, 1965, Ansett ANA F27-2013 c/n 10180 VH-FNH crash landed at Launceston, Tasmania, Australia whilst executing an emergency landing with a feathered propellor. Whilst attempting a go-around on one engine, the left wing of the aircraft struck the runway and the aircraft was extensively damaged by fire. There were no casualties and the aircraft was written off.

• On August 6, 1970, A Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft crashes while attempting to take off from Islamabad in a thunderstorm, killing all 30 people on board.

• On January 30, 1971 Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship aircraft Ganga was hijacked by Hashim Quereshi and his cousin Ashraf Butt and was flown to Lahore, Pakistan where the passengers and crew were released and plane was burnt on February 1, 1971.^[3][4][5]

• Pakistan International Airlines Flight 631 crashed on December 8, 1972 Gilgit, Pakistan: 26 fatalities.

• On May 31, 1974, an East-West Airlines F27-1131 c/n 10344, VH-EWL based in Sydney, crash-landed during a go-around attempt in unexpected tail-wind conditions at Bathurst, NSW, Australia. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off by insurers.

• On September 15, 1978, a Philippine Air Force F-27 crashed due to windshear. 15 of the 24 people on board were killed, as well as 17 people on the ground.

• On March 29, 1979, the F-27 of Quebecair Flight 255 crashed minutes after taking off from Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. 17 people died and 7 were injured.

• On May 26, 1980, a Nigerian Air Force F-27 crashed due to a thunderstorm, killing all 30 people on board. The aircraft was carrying a delegation of military and government officials on a diplomatic mission.

• On July 20, 1981, Somali Airlines Flight 40 crashed near Balad Somalia. All 50 passengers and crew on board were killed.

• On August 4, 1984, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Chittagong crashed in the swamps near Shahjalal International Airport. All 45 passengers and 4 crew of the F27 died. The flight was piloted by Kaniz Fatema Roksana, the country's first female commercial pilot.

• On August 16, 1986, a Sudan Airways F27 was shot down by the SPLA, killing all 60 people on board.

• On October 23, 1986, a PIA Fokker F27 crashes while coming in to land in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing 13 of the 54 people on board

• On December 8, 1987, the Alianza Lima air disaster in which a Naval F27 that was transporting the Alianza Lima football club crashed in Lima, Peru, killing the whole team.

• On October 19, 1988, thirty-four died in a Vayudoot F27 crash near Guwahati, India.^[6][7][8]

• On August 25, 1989, A PIA Fokker carrying 54 people disappears after leaving Gilgit in northern Pakistan. The wreckage was never found.

• On February 12, 1990, a TAM Airlines Fokker F27 registration PT-LCG operating a flight from São Paulo-Congonhas to Bauru, due to faulty approach procedures touched down at Bauru 775m past the runway threshold. The pilot was unable to initiate a go around procedure and went past the end of the runway hitting a car that was passing on a road nearby. One crew member and 2 occupants of the car died.^[9]

• On November 8, 1995, an Argentine Air Force F27 registration TC-72 operating from Comodoro Rivadavia to Córdoba, crashed on mount Champaquí in Córdoba, killing all 52 people, many of them children.^[10]

• On 12 January 1999 a F-27 (registration: G-CHNL) operating a cargo flight for Channel Express arriving in Guernsey from Luton crashed short of runway 27 after deploying full flap on approach. As the flap deployed, the cargo moved aft and exited the aeroplane's mass and balance limits, the flight crew initiated a go-around which further exacerbated problem by raising the gear and applying power. The aeroplane pitched up uncontrollably and stalled which resulted in the aircraft impacting the conservatory of a house located under the flight path. Fortunately no one on the ground was injured, however both flight crew were killed by the resulting fire which engulfed the aircraft. The investigation concluded the aeroplane was not loaded in accordance with the loadsheet. [1].

• On November 11, 2002, Laoag International Airlines Flight 585 crashed into Manila Bay. 19 of the 34 people on board are killed.

• On February 20, 2003, a military F27 crashed in northwestern Pakistan killing Pakistan Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, his wife and 15 others.

• Pakistan International Airlines Flight 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.^[11]

• On April 6, 2009, an Indonesian Air Force F27 crashed in Bandung, Indonesia killing all 24 occupants on board. The cause of the incident was said to be heavy rain.^[12] The plane reportedly crashed into a hangar during its landing procedure and killed all on board. The casualties include: 6 crews, an instructor and 17 special forces trainee personnel^[13]

• On June 21, 2012, an Indonesian Air Force F27 crashed into a housing complex in the capital Jakarta, setting 6 houses on fire and killing at least 11 people.^[14]

Aircraft on display [edit]

The first production Fokker F27 in NLM colours at an airshow in 2006

• (PH-FHF) The first production Fokker F27 Friendship preserved at the Aviodrome Lelystad, Netherlands marked in colours of NLM
• Air UK - G-BHMY Preserved at the Norwich Aviation Museum

Specifications (F.27) [edit]

Fokker 27 of Islamic Republic of Iran Navy

F27 Rolls Royce Dart

Finnish Air Force F-27-400M at Joensuu Airport

Data from ^[15]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 or 3
• Capacity: 48-56 passengers
• Length: 25.06 m (82 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 29 m (95 ft 2 in)
• Height: 8.72 m (28 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 70 m² (750 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 11,204 kg (24,701 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 19,773 kg (43,592 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart Mk.532-7 two-stage centrifugal compressor turboprop, 1,678 kW (2,250 hp) each

Performance

• Cruising speed: 460 km/h (286 mph; 248 kn)
• Range: 2,600 km (1,616 mi; 1,404 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 7.37 m/s (1,451 ft/min)

See also [edit]

Related development

• Fairchild Hiller FH-227
• Fokker 50

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Antonov An-24
• Handley Page Dart Herald
• Hawker Siddeley HS 748

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of civil aircraft

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fokker F-27

• Stork Aerospace Homepage
• F27 Friendship Association *Photo Gallery (in Dutch and English)
• Fokker F27 Info