Fairchild F-27

Last updated

F-27 / FH-227
Fairchild-Hil FH.227B PP-BUH Congonhas 06.05.72 edited-2.jpg
A Fairchild Hiller FH-227B of Varig at Congonhas Airport Sao Paulo in 1972
Role Airliner
Manufacturer Fairchild Hiller
First flightApril 12, 1958 (F-27)
February 2, 1966 (FH-227) [1]
Introduction1958
StatusRetired
Number built128 (F-27)
78 (FH-227)
Developed from Fokker F27 Friendship

The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined, turboprop, passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States. The Fairchild F-27 was similar to the standard Fokker F27, while the FH-227 was an independently developed, stretched version.

Contents

Design and development

Prototype of the F-27 in 1958-1959 Het prototype van de Fairchild F-27 (2161 026993).jpg
Prototype of the F-27 in 1958-1959
Fairchild F-27J of Air South in 1974, showing the shorter fuselage of this version Fairchild F.27J N2706J A.South ATL 21.04.74 edited-2.jpg
Fairchild F-27J of Air South in 1974, showing the shorter fuselage of this version
An FH-227D used in the movie Alive in the livery of Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya Flight 571 that crashed in the Andes in 1972 FokkerAnde1972.jpg
An FH-227D used in the movie Alive in the livery of Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya Flight 571 that crashed in the Andes in 1972
Venezuelan carrier Avensa was the first South American F-27 customer, with first delivery September 1958. This specific aircraft (YV-C-EVH) was lost in an accident in February 1962, including all 23 occupants. Avensa was de eerste maatschappij in Latijns-Amerika met een Fairchild F-27 (2161 026998).jpg
Venezuelan carrier Avensa was the first South American F-27 customer, with first delivery September 1958. This specific aircraft (YV-C-EVH) was lost in an accident in February 1962, including all 23 occupants.
A Fairchild Hiller FH-227B of the defunct Mohawk Airlines circa 1970 Mohawk N7823M.png
A Fairchild Hiller FH-227B of the defunct Mohawk Airlines circa 1970

The Fokker F27 began life as a 1950 design study known as the P275, a 32-seater powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops. With the aid of Dutch government funding, the P275 evolved into the F27, which first flew on November 24, 1955. The first prototype was powered by Dart 507s and would have seated 28. To correct a slight tail heaviness and to allow for more seats, the second prototype (which first flew in January 1957) had a 3-foot-longer (0.91 m) fuselage, which allowed seating for 32.

By this stage, Fokker had signed an agreement that would have Fairchild build Friendships in the U.S. as the F-27. The first aircraft of either manufacturer to enter service in the U.S. was, in fact, a Fairchild-built F-27, with West Coast Airlines in September 1958. Other Fairchild F-27 operators in the U.S. included Air South, Air West and successor Hughes Airwest, Allegheny Airlines, Aloha Airlines, Bonanza Air Lines, Horizon Air, Ozark Air Lines, Pacific Air Lines, Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989), Northern Consolidated Airlines, and successor Wien Air Alaska. Fairchild subsequently manufactured a larger, stretched version of the F-27 named the Fairchild Hiller FH-227, which was operated by U.S.-based air carriers Delta Air Lines, Mohawk Airlines, Northeast Airlines, Ozark Air Lines, Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989), and Wien Air Alaska.

Fairchild F-27s differed from the initial Fokker F27 Mk 100s in having basic seating for 40, heavier external skinning, a lengthened nose capable of housing weather radar, and additional fuel capacity. They also incorporated a passenger airstair door in the rear of the aircraft, operated by a flight attendant, which eliminated the need for separate stairs on the ground.

Developments were the F-27A with more powerful engines and the F-27B Combi aircraft version. The F-27B Combi mixed passenger/freight version was operated in Alaska by Northern Consolidated Airlines and Wien Air Alaska.

Fairchild independently developed the stretched FH-227, which appeared almost two years earlier than Fokker's similar F27 Mk 500. The FH-227 featured a 1.83 m (6 ft) stretch over standard-length F27/F-27s, taking standard seating to 56, with a larger cargo area between the cockpit and the passenger cabin.

Production

In addition to the 581 F27s built by Fokker, 128 F-27s and 78 FH-227s were built. As of February 2010, only one Fairchild FH-227 aircraft, FH-227E serial number 501 belonging to the Myanmar Air Force, remained in active service.[ citation needed ]

Former operators

(Source: Roach & Eastwood)

Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of South Korea.svg  Republic of Korea
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay

Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Accidents

Of the 78 FH-227s built, 23 crashed. [3]

Specifications (FH-227E)

Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. [24]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fokker F27 Friendship</span> Regional airliner by Fokker

The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner developed and manufactured by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. It is the most numerous post-war aircraft manufactured in the Netherlands; the F27 was also one of the most successful European airliners of its era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fokker F28 Fellowship</span> Short range jet airliner produced 1967-1987

The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a twin-engined, short-range jet airliner designed and built by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohawk Airlines</span> American airline from 1945 to 1972

Mohawk Airlines was a local service carrier operating in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, mainly in New York and Pennsylvania, from the mid-1940s until its acquisition by Allegheny Airlines in 1972. At its height, it employed over 2,200 personnel and pioneered several aspects of regional airline operations, including being the first airline in the United States to hire an African American flight attendant, in 1958. The airline was based at Ithaca Municipal Airport near Ithaca, New York, until 1958, when it moved to Oneida County Airport in Whitestown, New York.

Empire Airlines is a cargo and former passenger airline based in Hayden, Idaho, near Coeur d'Alene. It operates over 120 scheduled cargo flights a day in 18 US states and Canada. Empire also operated passenger service within Hawaii, under the name "Ohana by Hawaiian", between 2014-2021 in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines. Its main base is Coeur d'Alene Airport with a hub at Spokane International Airport. The company slogan is We Can Do That.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iran Aseman Airlines</span> Airline in Iran

Iran Aseman Airlines is the third-largest Iranian airline headquartered in Tehran. It operates scheduled domestic passenger services and regional international services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fokker 50</span> Regional airliner by Fokker

The Fokker 50 is a turboprop-powered airliner manufactured and supported by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. It was designed as an improved version of the successful Fokker F27 Friendship. The Fokker 60 is a stretched freighter version of the Fokker 50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan International Airlines Flight 688</span> Aircraft crash in Pakistan, 10 July 2006

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 688 was a domestic passenger flight from Multan to Islamabad with a stopover in Lahore, operated by Pakistan's flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines. On 10 July 2006, the aircraft operating the route, a Fokker F27, crashed into a mango garden after one of its two engines failed shortly after takeoff from Multan International Airport. All 41 passengers and four crewmembers on board were killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989)</span> Defunct airline of the United States (1948–1989)

Piedmont Airlines was a local service carrier, a scheduled carrier in the United States that operated from 1948 until it merged with USAir in 1989. Its headquarters were at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a building that is now part of Wake Forest University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohawk Airlines Flight 411</span> 1969 aviation accident

Mohawk Airlines Flight 411, a Fairchild FH-227B twin-engine turboprop, registered N7811M, was a scheduled domestic passenger service operated by Mohawk Airlines, between Albany and Glens Falls, New York. On November 19, 1969, it crashed into Pilot Knob Mountain, killing all 14 passengers and crew on board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohawk Airlines Flight 405</span> 1972 aviation accident in Albany, New York

Mohawk Airlines Flight 405, a Fairchild Hiller FH-227 twin-engine turboprop airliner registered N7818M, was a domestic scheduled passenger flight operated by Mohawk Airlines that crashed into a house within the city limits of Albany, New York, on March 3, 1972, on final approach to Albany County Airport, New York, killing 17 people. The intended destination airport lies in the suburban Town of Colonie, about 4 miles north of the crash site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TAT European Airlines</span> Former French regional airline

Transport Aérien Transrégional was a French regional airline with its head office on the grounds of Tours Val de Loire Airport in Tours. It was formed in 1968 as Touraine Air Transport (TAT) by M. Marchais. Air France acquired a minority stake in the airline in 1989. Between 1993 and 1996 the company was gradually taken over by British Airways. It subsequently merged with Air Liberté.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wien Consolidated Airlines Flight 55</span> 1968 aviation accident

Wien Consolidated Airlines Flight 55 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight in Alaska that crashed into Pedro Bay on December 2, 1968, killing all 39 on board. The Fairchild F-27B aircraft was operated by Wien Consolidated Airlines and was en route to Dillingham from Anchorage, with three intermediate stops. The NTSB investigation revealed that the aircraft suffered a structural failure after encountering "severe-to-extreme" air turbulence. The accident was the second-worst accident involving a Fairchild F-27 at the time, and currently the third-worst accident involving the aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportes Aéreos Regionais da Bacia Amazônica</span> Brazilian airline

TABA – Transportes Aéreos Regionais da Bacia Amazônica was a Brazilian airline founded in 1976. It ceased operations in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozark Air Lines Flight 809</span> 1973 plane crash in Missouri, United States

Ozark Air Lines Flight 809 was a regularly scheduled flight from Nashville, Tennessee, to St. Louis, Missouri, with four intermediate stops. On July 23, 1973, while landing at St. Louis International Airport, it crashed, killing 38 of the 44 persons aboard. A severe downdraft, associated with a nearby thunderstorm, was cited as the cause.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 TABA Fairchild FH-227 accident</span>

The TABA Fairchild FH-227 accident happened on 12 June 1982 when a twin-engined Fairchild FH-227B on an internal scheduled passenger flight from Eirunepé Airport to Tabatinga International Airport crashed in bad weather. On approach to land at Tabatinga, the aircraft hit a lighting tower and crashed into a car park; the aircraft exploded and burned, and all 44 on board were killed, resulting as TABA's worst aviation disaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia Airlines Flight 2133</span> Fatal aviation accident in 1995

Malaysia Airlines Flight 2133 (MH2133/MAS2133) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau, operated by Malaysia's flag carrier Malaysia Airlines. On 15 September 1995, the Fokker 50 carrying 53 people flew into a shanty town after the pilots failed to stop the aircraft while landing in Tawau, killing 32 of the 49 passengers and 2 of the 4 crew on board. This was the first hull loss of a Fokker 50.

References

Notes
  1. Becker 1988, pp. 42, 44
  2. Endres, Günter G. (1979). World Airline Fleets 1979. Hounslow (UK): Airline Publications and Sales. p. 197. ISBN   0905117530.
  3. Surviving the Andes Plane Crash (2010) Archived September 26, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Gary Orlando FH-227 historian
  4. 1 2 "Los momentos tristes del aeropuerto Mariscal Sucre - El Comercio". Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Lost Schemes: #294 AREA-Ecuador DC-7C (1968) – Airlinercafe". Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild F-27A HC-ADV Quito". Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  7. "F-27 Msn:1-25 - www.fokkerairliners.net". Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  8. http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR69-06.pdf Archived July 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine [ bare URL PDF ]
  9. "Accident description PP-BUF". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  10. Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "O fim da Paraense". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 267–268. ISBN   978-85-7430-760-2.
  11. "Accident description PT-LBV". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  12. Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Aru traiçoeiro". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 327–331. ISBN   978-85-7430-760-2.
  13. Aviation Safety Network CC-CJE accident synopsis Archived November 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine retrieved 2010-06-23
  14. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild FH-227B F-GCPS Machault". Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  15. "Accident description PT-ICA". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  16. Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Nevoeiro na reta final". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 361–363. ISBN   978-85-7430-760-2.
  17. "Accident description PT-LCS". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  18. "Accident description PP-BUJ". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. "ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild FH-227D HC-BUF Ambato-Chachoan Airport (ATF)". Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  20. "Fairchild Hiller FH-227D, N2784R / 573, South Seattle Community College". Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  21. "Photo of Fairchild FH-227D 571 - Aviation Safety Network". Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  22. "Detresfa, Fairchaild F- 27, Matricula Hc - Aym". Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  23. "Descripción del Accidente ASN 17 JAN 2002 Fairchild FH-227E HC-AYM - Cerro el Tigre". Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  24. Taylor 1969, pp. 321–322
Bibliography

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Fairchild F-27 at Wikimedia Commons