Fairchild F-27

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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

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.

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

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

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

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
Venezuelan carrier Avensa was the first South American client for the F-27, taking delivery of its first in September 1958. However, this particular aircraft (reg. YV-C-EVH) was lost in an accident in February 1962, with the loss of all its 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 client for the F-27, taking delivery of its first in September 1958. However, this particular aircraft (reg. YV-C-EVH) was lost in an accident in February 1962, with the loss of all its 23 occupants.

Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay

Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Accidents

Of the 78 FH-227s built, 23 crashed. [2]

Specifications (FH-227E)

Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. [23]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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References

Notes
  1. Becker 1988, pp. 42, 44
  2. Surviving the Andes Plane Crash (2010) Archived September 26, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Gary Orlando FH-227 historian
  3. 1 2 "Los momentos tristes del aeropuerto Mariscal Sucre - El Comercio". Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Lost Schemes: #294 AREA-Ecuador DC-7C (1968) – Airlinercafe". Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild F-27A HC-ADV Quito". Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  6. "F-27 Msn:1-25 - www.fokkerairliners.net". Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  7. 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 ]
  8. "Accident description PP-BUF". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  9. 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.
  10. "Accident description PT-LBV". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  11. 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.
  12. Aviation Safety Network CC-CJE accident synopsis Archived November 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine retrieved 2010-06-23
  13. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild FH-227B F-GCPS Machault". Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  14. "Accident description PT-ICA". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  15. 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.
  16. "Accident description PT-LCS". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  17. "Accident description PP-BUJ". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. "ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild FH-227D HC-BUF Ambato-Chachoan Airport (ATF)". Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  19. "Fairchild Hiller FH-227D, N2784R / 573, South Seattle Community College". Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  20. "Photo of Fairchild FH-227D 571 - Aviation Safety Network". Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  21. "Detresfa, Fairchaild F- 27, Matricula Hc - Aym". Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  22. "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.
  23. Taylor 1969, pp. 321–322
Bibliography

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