The twin-turboprop Fokker F27' Friendship' airliner represents part of a historic period for the world of commercial aviation during the post-war years. Production began in 1955, but it wasn't only the Dutch powerhouse of Fokker that would work on the program. Following a licensing arrangement, North America's Fairchild would also build aircraft as part of the program across the pond.

Convenient upgrades

The Fokker F27 'Friendship' program originally went by the name of the P275, and it was billed to be a replacement for contemporary popular piston-engine aircraft on the scene, such as the Douglas DC-3. It was to be backed by Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops and feature a shoulder wing along with 32 seats. However, in 1952, the plane progressed into a 40-seater, with a range of 483 km (270 NM).

The South Australian Aviation Museum shares that "the first prototype was fitted with Dart 507 engines, but a second one had Dart 511s and a 0.9 meter (3 ft) longer fuselage. The latter aircraft was adopted for production aircraft. Several different variants were produced from the basic aircraft (the F27-100)."

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Noting further variants, the museum adds: "the Mk200 had more powerful Mk528 Darts and increased weight; the Mk300 a large freight door in the forward fuselage, the Mk400 was the Mk300 but with Dart 528s; the Mk500 fuselage was lengthened 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in); and lastly, the Mk600 was a Mk400 with Mk528 Dart engines and the large freight door, but without the all-metal, watertight freight floor."

Into service

The aircraft made its first flight on November 24th, 1955, and eventually became one of the most successful 20th-century airliners produced in Europe. The first airline to enter it into service was Aer Lingus, which took on two planes on November 19th, 1958, and introduced the type the following month.

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Following the Irish flag carrier, Braathens SAFE and Trans-Australia Airlines took delivery of the next bunch of aircraft. According to Travel Update, Fokker ultimately produced some 568 F27' Friendship' family aircraft. These were built between 1955 and 1987, making them the Netherlands' most-produced post-war aircraft.

Several variants

There were numerous editions of the F27 Friendship launched over the years. These served various purposes, carrying passengers and cargo, as well as being used in military roles. Passenger-carrying variants included the following:

• F27-100 - The first production model, with a capacity of up to 44 passengers.
• F-27 - The version built in the US by Fairchild.
• FH-227 - A stretched version of the F-27 built in the US by Fairchild.
• F27-200 - Fitted with the Dart Mk 532 engine.
• F27-500 - Capable of fitting up to 52 passengers.
• F27-600 - Similar to the -200 with a larger door.

Meanwhile, the following variants served combi, cargo, and military roles:

• F27-300 Combiplane - Compatible for both passenger and cargo services.
• F27-300M Troopship - A military version used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
• F27-400 - A combi with two Rolls-Royce Dart 7 turboprop engines.
• F27-400M - The military version of the -400.
• F27-500M - Military version of the -500.
• F27-500F - A variant of the -500 suitable for cargo operations.
• F27-700 - Based on the F27-100 with a larger door for better cargo capabilities.
• F27 200-MAR - Unarmed maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
• F27 Maritime Enforcer - An Armed maritime reconnaissance variant.

Production continued overseas before stopping altogether

In addition to the 568 Fokker F27' Friendship' family aircraft that the Dutch manufacturer produced at home in the Netherlands, another 206 units were built in the United States by Fairchild as the FH-227. However, production eventually stopped in 1987 due to the rise of the more modern Fokker 50.

The Fokker 50 ultimately proved less of a commercial success, with just 213 examples produced between 1985 and 1997. According to data from ch-aviation.com, 70 examples of this aircraft remain active today at 29 operators.

The Fokker F27' Friendship' continued to fly but has been largely phased out. It is currently a rare sight, and, in recent years, it has been more likely to be spotted on display at institutions such as the South Australian Aviation Museum. Nowadays, the plane is a time capsule of a significant period in aviation history.

What do you make of the Fokker F-27' Friendship'? Did you ever fly on the plane over the years? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: ch-aviation.com, FlightGlobal, South Australian Aviation Museum, Travel Update