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Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the
Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. With 786 units built (including 206 in the
USA by Fairchild) it is the most successful turboprop airliner of all time.
Design of the aircraft started in the 1950s, as a DC-3 replacement. A number
of different configurations were considered before the final decision on a high
wing, twin Rolls-Royce Dart engined, pressurised cabin for 28 passengers was made.
The first prototype, PH-NIV first flew on November 24, 1955. The second prototype
and initial production machines were 3ft longer, a correction to the first
aircraft being a little tail heavy and also allowing more passengers and the
more powerful Dart Mk 528 engine.
In 1956, Fokker signed a deal with Fairchild for the latter to construct the
aircraft in the USA. The first US built aircraft flew on April 12, 1958. The first
production model, the -100, seated 44 passengers with initial deliveries to Aer
Lingus in September, 1958. Dart mk532 was the next engine being used leading to
the -200.
The most ubiquitous model, the -500, had a 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) longer fuselage, a
return to the Dart528, and accommodation for 52 passengers. It first flew in
November, 1967.
In 1985, two Fokker F27 Troopships were leased by the US Army parachute team,
the Golden Knights. Subsequently two aircraft were purchased and designated
C-31A Troopship. The aircraft were used both to transport the team to airshows
and also as their jumping platform.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fokker F27".
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