Fokker F27-500 Friendship
Fokker · Netherlands · first flew 1967 · airliner
The Fokker F27-500 Friendship is the stretched variant of the highly successful Dutch twin-turboprop regional airliner, extending the baseline F27-100's fuselage to carry up to 52 passengers. It was one of the best-selling turboprop airliners ever built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | High-wing twin turboprop with circular fuselage cross-section |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing twin turboprop with circular fuselage cross-section
- Stretched fuselage of the F27 with additional passenger rows
- Rolls-Royce Dart engines in nacelles flush with the wing leading edge
High-mounted straight wing with Dart engines blended into the leading edge, circular fuselage, and single-wheel main gear identify the F27; the -500's longer fuselage is apparent when compared alongside shorter variants.
Specifications
- The Fokker F27-500 Friendship has a length of 25.06 m (82 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29 m (95 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 480 km/h (298 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Fokker developed the -500 variant in the mid-1960s to meet demand for greater capacity on established regional routes. The stretched fuselage added approximately two metres to the standard aircraft, accommodating additional passenger rows. The type was also licence-built by Fairchild in the United States as the FH-227, and the F27 family remained in production until 1987.
Variants
The F27 family includes the -100 (baseline), -200 (higher-powered engines), -300 (convertible), -400 (military), -500 (stretched), -600 (quick-change), and -700 series; the stretched -500 was the highest-capacity passenger variant.
Where you'll see it
The F27-500 served with airlines worldwide, particularly in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa; many remain in service today with regional and cargo operators decades after production ended.
Related aircraft
- Fokker F28 Fellowship
- Fokker F28 Mk 6000 Fellowship
- Fokker S.13
- Fokker F27 Friendship
- BAC One-Eleven 500
- Boeing 727-200
- Boeing 737-100
- Boeing 737-200
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