Fokker F-27 Friendship
The Fokker F27 Friendship, built under licence in the United States by Fairchild as the F-27, was one of the most successful regional turboprops of the postwar era, selling to airlines across dozens of countries. Its high wing and pressurised cabin were advanced features for a regional aircraft of its 1955 debut, offering airline-like comfort on shorter routes that jets couldn't yet serve economically. Military transport versions, and a dedicated maritime patrol variant, extended the basic airframe well beyond civilian airline use. Decades after production ended, a number remain in active cargo and utility service worldwide.
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Did you know?
The Fokker F27 Friendship's high wing and pressurised cabin offered airline-like comfort on routes jets couldn't yet serve economically.
Specifications
| Length | 23.6 m (77 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 29 m (95 ft) |
| Height | 8.7 m (29 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 52 |
| Persons on board | 44-60 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 20.4 t |
| Range | 1,080 NM (2,000 km) |
| Maximum speed | 259 kt (480 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 29,500 ft (8,992 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 22,000 ft (6,706 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,450 ft/min (7.4 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 1,200 m (3,937 ft) |
| Landing distance | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 7,430 l |
| Engines | 2x Rolls-Royce Dart |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Fokker F-27 Friendship starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
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