Fokker F.27 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids F27 Friendship
An F27 Friendship of the US Army Golden Knights
General information
Type	Regional airliner
National origin	Netherlands
Manufacturer	Fokker
Status	In limited service
Number built	586
History
Manufactured	1955–1987
Introduction date	19 November 1958
First flight	24 November 1955
Variants	Fairchild F-27/FH-227
Developed into	Fokker 50

The Fokker F27 Friendship is a famous airplane built in the Netherlands. It's a type of aircraft called a turboprop airliner. This means it uses engines that spin propellers, but these engines are like small jet engines. The F27 was very popular and successful, becoming the most common airplane made in the Netherlands after World War II. It was one of the best European airliners of its time!

Design and Development
- How the F27 Friendship Was Born
- Growing and Changing
Operational History
- Flying High with the Friendship
Variants
- Different Types of F27 Friendship Planes
Operators
- Who Flew the F27 Friendship?
Aircraft on Display
- Where to See a Fokker F27 Friendship Today
Specifications (F.27)
- F27 Friendship: Quick Facts
See also

Design and Development

How the F27 Friendship Was Born

After World War II, many airplanes like the Douglas DC-3 were used for short flights. But by the early 1950s, people wanted newer, better planes. The Dutch company Fokker decided to build one. They asked airlines what they needed in a new plane.

An early drawing of the F27

The first F27 prototype, named PH-NSA

Fokker wanted to create an airplane that was more comfortable and efficient. They chose special engines called Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines. These engines made much less noise and vibration than older engines, which was great for passengers. The F27 also had a pressurized cabin, meaning the air inside was kept comfortable even when flying high. Fokker also used a clever way to build the plane, using a special glue to bond metal parts together. This made the plane lighter, stronger, and smoother.

The second F27 prototype being built in 1956.

In 1953, this new airplane was named Friendship. The very first F27 flew on 24 November 1955. The first planes were a bit shorter, but they soon made them longer to carry more passengers (up to 32!) and improve how they flew.

Growing and Changing

The Imperial Iranian Air Force bought 19 Fokker F27-400M transport planes in 1972.

Over the years, Fokker kept making the F27 better. They added stronger engines, bigger doors for cargo, and even made some versions longer. There were also special F27s for military use and for watching over the sea. An American company called Fairchild Aircraft also built the F27 under a special agreement. Fairchild even made its own longer version called the FH-227. Later, in the 1980s, Fokker created a newer, more modern airplane based on the F27. This new plane was called the Fokker 50. It had new engines and systems, making it even better and more comfortable. The Fokker 50 eventually took over from the F27 in production.

Operational History

Flying High with the Friendship

The first F27-100 model was delivered to an Irish airline called Aer Lingus in November 1958. It started carrying passengers the very next month! Many other airlines around the world quickly started using the Friendship, including those in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.

Aer Lingus was the first airline to fly the F27 Friendship.

A Braathens SAFE F27-100 Friendship in August 1974.

At first, sales were a bit slow, but soon everyone realized how good the F27 was. It was faster, more comfortable, and more reliable than older planes. This made it very popular, and many airlines ordered them.

A Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano F-27 with its cargo door open. Passengers used the rear door, while cargo went in the front.

By the time production ended in 1987, Fokker had built 592 F27s. Fairchild in the USA built another 207! This made it the most-produced turboprop airliner in Western Europe at the time. Many F27s were later changed to carry cargo instead of passengers. For example, FedEx Express used them to deliver packages. Even today, some F27s are still flying! As of July 2018, about 10 F27 aircraft were still in service with different airlines. The United States Army Parachute Team has also used a special F27, called a C-31A Troopship, for their skydiving shows since 1985.

Variants

Different Types of F27 Friendship Planes

Over its history, the F27 was made in many different versions for various jobs:

F27-100 - This was the first version, carrying up to 44 passengers.
F27-200 - This version had more powerful engines.
F27-300 Combiplane - This plane could carry both passengers and cargo.
F27-300M Troopship - A military transport version for the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
F27-400 - A "Combi" plane with powerful engines and a large door for cargo.
F27-400M - A military version for the US Army, known as the C-31A Troopship. Some were still in use until September 2019!
F27-500 - This version had a longer body, making space for up to 52 passengers. It first flew in 1967.
F27-600 - A version of the -200 that could quickly change between carrying cargo and passengers, with a large cargo door.
F27-700 - An F27-100 with a large cargo door.
F27 200-MAR - A version used for watching over the sea, without weapons.
F27 Maritime Enforcer - A version for sea patrols that could carry weapons.
F-27 - The version built by Fairchild Hiller in the United States under license.
FH-227 - A longer version of the F-27, made by Fairchild Hiller.
B.TPh.1 - (Thai: บ.ตผ.๑) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the F27-200.
B.LL.1 - (Thai: บ.ลล.๑) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the F27-400.

Operators

Who Flew the F27 Friendship?

Many airlines and military forces around the world have used the F27 Friendship. You can see where they were used on this map:

Map showing where F27 planes were used. Light blue means only civilian use, dark blue means both civilian and military, and red means only military use.

You can find a full list here:

Aircraft on Display

Where to See a Fokker F27 Friendship Today

Even though many F27s are no longer flying, you can still see some of these amazing planes in museums and other places around the world!

An Argentine Air Force F27, T-42, on display.

The first F27 ever built, in NLM colors, at an airshow in 2006.

Argentina
- T-42, an old Argentine Air Force F27, is on display at the Museo Nacional de Aeronautica de Argentina.
Australia
- 10132 – An F27-109 is on static display at the South Australian Aviation Museum in Adelaide. It used to be a research plane for the CSIRO.
- 10315 – An F27-600QC is on static display at the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra Airport. It flew for Ansett Australia.
- 10596 - An F27-500 was delivered airworthy to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Illawarra Regional Airport, New South Wales on 26 February 2018.
Finland
- The Finnish Air Force's first F27, called "FF-1" or "Ansa", is on static display at the Satakunta Air Command garrison in Pirkkala.
Iceland
- 10545 – An F27-200-MAR is on static display at the Akureyri Aviation Museum at Akureyri Airport. It was used by the Icelandic Coast Guard.
Indonesia

An F27-400M of the Indonesian Air Force at the Dirgantara Mandala Museum in Yogyakarta.

- 10541– An F27-400M is on static display at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta.
- 10544 – An F27-400M is on static display at the Dirgantara Mandala Museum in Yogyakarta.
Netherlands
- 10102 – An F27-100 is on static display at the Aviodrome in Lelystad. It's one of the original test planes.
- 10105 – Another F27-100 is also on static display at the Aviodrome. This was the very first F27 ever made!
- 10183 - An F27-100 on static display at a Bed and Breakfast in Hoogerheide. It was once a test plane for a maritime version.
- 10449 – An F27-500 is on static display at Fokker Logistics Park in Oude Meer. It's painted like the first F27 prototype and marks where the Fokker factory used to be.
- C-10 – An F27-300M is on static display at the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum in Soesterberg, Utrecht.
New Zealand
- 10189 – An F27-100 is on static display at the Ferrymead Aeronautical Society in Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch.
- 10190 – An F27-100 is on static display at the National Transport & Toy Museum in Wanaka.
- 10286 – An F27-100 is under restoration at the Chatham Islands Aviation Museum in Waitangi, Chatham Islands.
Philippines
- 59-0259, an F27-200 from the Philippine Air Force that once served as a presidential plane, is now on static display at the People's Park in Silay City.
United Kingdom
- 10196 – An F27-200 is on static display at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum in Horsham, St Faith.
- 10201 – An F27-500 is on static display at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum.
United States
- 10367 – An F27-500 is on static display at the Hickory Aviation Museum in Hickory, North Carolina. It used to fly for FedEx.

Specifications (F.27)

F27 Friendship: Quick Facts

An F27-400M of the Thai Navy in 2012.

The Rolls-Royce Dart engine of an F27.

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

Here are some interesting facts about the F27 Friendship:

Crew: 2 or 3 people
Passengers: 44 to 52 people
Length: About 25.06 meters (82.2 feet)
Wingspan: 29 meters (95.1 feet)
Height: 8.71 meters (28.6 feet)
Empty Weight: About 11,204 kg (24,701 lbs)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: Up to 19,773 kg (43,592 lbs)
Engines: Two Rolls-Royce Dart Mk.532-7 turboprop engines
Engine Power: Each engine produced about 1,678 kilowatts (2,250 horsepower)
Cruising Speed: Around 460 km/h (286 mph)
Range: Up to 2,600 km (1,616 miles)
Climb Rate: It could climb about 7.37 meters (24.2 feet) per second