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.