Fairchild FH-227
Fairchild · United States · first flew 1955 · airliner
The Fairchild F-27 (and its stretched FH-227 derivative) was the American licence-built version of the Fokker F27 Friendship, a high-wing twin-turboprop regional airliner that became one of the most successful turboprop transports in North American service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Licence-built Fokker F27 Friendship with stretched fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Licence-built Fokker F27 Friendship with stretched fuselage
- High-wing twin turboprop regional airliner
- T-tail on later FH-227 stretch variant
High-wing twin turboprop with oval fuselage cross-section, Rolls-Royce Dart engines, and a conventional or slightly canted tail; the stretched FH-227 has notably longer fuselage than the basic F-27.
Specifications
- The Fairchild FH-227 has a length of 25.5 m (84 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29 m (95 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 473 km/h (294 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Fairchild obtained a US licence from Fokker and began delivering F-27s in 1958, slightly ahead of Fokker's own deliveries. The stretched FH-227 series, first flown in 1966, added up to 4.78 m of fuselage to increase passenger capacity for US domestic regional operations.
Variants
F-27A/B/F mirrored Fokker's F27 series; the FH-227B/C/D/E were stretched and re-engined variants with Dart turboprops and modified tails. Military C-31A Troopship versions served the US Army Reserve.
Where you'll see it
Operated widely by US regional carriers including Allegheny, Mohawk, and Piedmont during the 1960s–1980s; military C-31As served in the US Army. Exported to Central and South American operators.
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- Fokker F27 Friendship
- Handley Page Herald
- Sud Aviation Caravelle
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