Fokker 50
Fokker · Netherlands · first flew 1985 · airliner
The Fokker 50 is a modernised, high-wing twin-turboprop regional airliner derived from the long-running Fokker F27 Friendship.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 25.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High straight wing
- Six-blade props on high wing
- Conventional low tailplane
Recognise it by the high straight wing with engines and six-blade props above the fuselage, a circular-section body, and a conventional tail with a low-set tailplane.
Specifications
- The Fokker 50 has a length of 25.2 m (83 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29 m (95 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 532 km/h (331 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1985 and in service from 1987, the Fokker 50 updated the F27 with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW125 engines, six-blade propellers, a glass cockpit and revised systems. Production ran until Fokker's 1996 bankruptcy, with around 213 built.
Variants
The baseline Series 100 was joined by the higher-powered Series 300 for hot-and-high operations, plus the Fokker 60 stretched military utility version. Maritime patrol and special-mission variants were also produced.
Where you'll see it
In the UK the type appeared with regional and charter operators feeding into airports across the country, and remained associated with European feeder networks linking to British hubs. Its F27 lineage made it a recognisable successor to a type long flown by UK carriers.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.