Fokker F.27 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Fokker F.27

A Fokker F.27-500 taking off.
Role	Airliner
National origin	Netherlands.
Manufacturer	Fokker
First flight	1955
Introduction	1958
Status	Active
Number built	586

The Fokker F.27 is a famous airplane built in the Netherlands. It has two turboprops, which are like jet engines but they spin propellers. This plane was designed to replace an older plane called the Douglas DC-3. The F.27 can carry between 48 and 56 passengers.

There are also other versions of this plane. The Fairchild FH-227 is an American version built under a special agreement. The Fokker 50 is a newer, more modern version of the F.27. Some of these planes were even used by militaries to carry supplies and people, acting as cargo aircraft.

History of the Fokker F.27
Features of the Fokker F.27
Different Versions of the F.27
- Fairchild FH-227
- Fokker 50
Images for kids
See also

History of the Fokker F.27

Designing a New Plane

The Fokker F.27 was created by a Dutch company called Fokker. They wanted to build a new plane that was better than the old Douglas DC-3. The DC-3 was very popular but it was getting old. Fokker started working on the F.27 in the early 1950s.

First Flight and Introduction

The very first Fokker F.27 airplane flew for the first time in 1955. After a few more years of testing and improvements, the plane was ready for use. It was officially introduced in 1958. This means airlines could start buying and using it for their flights.

How Many Were Built?

Fokker built a lot of F.27 planes. In total, 586 of these aircraft were made. This shows how successful and popular the design was. Many airlines around the world used the F.27 for their flights.

Features of the Fokker F.27

Engines and Performance

The F.27 uses two turboprop engines. These engines are powerful and efficient. They help the plane fly smoothly and reliably. The design of the F.27 made it good for short and medium-distance flights.

Passenger Capacity

The plane was designed to carry a good number of people. It could usually fit between 48 and 56 passengers. This made it a great choice for regional airlines. These airlines often fly between smaller cities.

Military Use

While mainly used by airlines, some F.27s were also bought by different countries' militaries. These military versions were often used to transport soldiers or supplies. They were known as "Troopships" or "Friendships" in military service.

Different Versions of the F.27

Fairchild FH-227

In the United States, a company called Fairchild built their own version of the F.27. It was called the Fairchild FH-227. This was done under a special agreement with Fokker. It means the American company had permission to build the plane's design.

Fokker 50

Later on, Fokker decided to update the F.27. They created a more modern version called the Fokker 50. This new plane had better engines and more advanced technology. It was built to keep up with newer aircraft designs.

Images for kids

Aer Lingus was the first airline to operate the F27 Friendship
Braathens SAFE F27-100 Friendship in August 1974
F27-300M Troopship of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in the mid 1970s
Map of F27 operators. Light blue indicates civilian use only. Dark blue indicates both civilian and military use. Red indicates military use only.
Argentine Air Force F27 T-42
The first production Fokker F27 in NLM colours at an airshow in 2006
F27-400M of the Indonesian Air Force at Dirgantara Mandala Museum in Yogyakarta
F27-400M of Thai Navy in 2012.
F27 Rolls Royce Dart engine.
Finnish Air Force F-27-400M at Joensuu Airport.