Aviation 101 Fairchild F-27 / Fokker F27
The F27 (without a dash) Friendship was introduced in 1958 by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker; it was their most successful post-war airliner. Subsidized by the Dutch government it became the world's best selling turbo-prop airliner, reaching 787 planes by 1986 including 206 built under license by the Fairchild Hiller Corp. of the US, and know as the F-27 (with a dash) Friendship. The 206 aircraft built by Fairchild Hiller included 128 standard F-27s and 78 FH-227 stretched versions.
The Fokker F27 began as a design study in 1950 as a replacement to the very successful Douglas DC-3. The first prototype flew in Nov. 1955. The following year Fokker signed a licensing agreement with Fairchild Hiller of the US. The first Fairchild F-27 entered commercial service in Sept. 1958 and the first Fokker F27 production model was delivered to the customer in Nov. 1958.
Performance information: Fokker F27 Cruising speed: 286 mph (460 km/hr)
Range: 1616 mi. (2600 km.)
Cargo capacity: 18,891 lbs. (8569 kg.) 48-56 passengers plus freight
| Three-view of Fokker F27 |
Specifications (F.27)
Finnish Air Force F-27-400M atJoensuu Airport
Data from
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 or 3
- Capacity: 48-56 passengers
- Length: 25.06 m (82 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 29 m (95 ft 2 in)
- Height: 8.72 m (28 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 70 m2 (750 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 11,204 kg (24,701 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 19,773 kg (43,592 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart Mk.532-7 two-stage centrifugal compressor turboprop, 1,678 kW (2,250 hp) each
Performance
- Cruising speed: 460 km/h (286 mph; 248 kn)
- Range: 2,600 km (1,616 mi; 1,404 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 7.37 m/s (1,451 ft/min)
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LAB Fairchild F-27 / Fokker F27 Aircraft Fleet -- Detailed Histories and Photos
of Eleven Aircraft
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FAIRCHILD F-27
| CP-862 in CBB - Photo from the Jacques Vooren Collection |
CP-862
Fairchild F-27J Friendship c/n
127
History:
Fairchild Hiller Corp. N2736R Jan 1968
Fairchild Hiller Corp " Jun 1969
- converted from -27J to -27M
LAB CP-862 8 Sep 1969
- accident w/o 16 Mar 1984
The accident: On 16 Mar 1984 on a flight between Trinidad and San Borja, CP-862 crashed in the jungle in the vicinity of Cerro Pilon, about 40 kilometers from San Borja. Fatalities: all 3 crew members and all 20 passengers.
| My two oldest sons boarding CP-862 in Camiri, Bolivia - 1 Aug 1983 - Flight to Yacuiba and Tarija
|
Personal note: I flew on CP-862 in 1983 with my sons Michael and Christopher from Camiri to Yacuiba, then to Tarija. We had arrived in Camiri via Boyuibe by train from Santa Cruz, then by open truck over night, arriving in Camiri on 28 July. Our flight to Tarija on 30 July was cancelled because of low cloud cover over the airport in nearby Choreti; the same on 31 July. Finally on 1 Aug the clouds lifted enough for us to leave. (See photo above) What an adventure ! Seven and a half months later this same, usually dependable aircraft went down on a flight from Trinidad to San Borja; all 23 on board died. It scares me now to think about it.
The best source I know of for information about the Fokker / Fairchild aircraft in Bolivia is the following (in Spanish) by aviacionboliviano.net:
Lo mejor sobre el tema de Fokker / Fairchild en Bolivia es lo siguiente por aviacionboliviana.net:
http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/fab/pres/art_f27.htm
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| CP-863 photo by berlinspotter.de |
CP-863
Fairchild F-27J Friendship
c/n 128
History:
Fairchild Hiller Corp. N2737R
8 Feb 1968
Fairchild Hiller Corp.
" Jun 1969
- converted from -27J to -27M
LAB CP-863 31 Jul 1969
- hijacking incident 16 Dec 1971
Oklahoma Aircraft Corp. N276PH 4 Mar 1983
Horizon Air " 9 Mar 1983
- named "City of Yakima"
De Havilland Canada " Feb 1986
Horizon Air " 2 Feb 1986
De Havilland Canada " Dec 1986
Boeing Equipment Holding " 1 Nov 1987
North American Aircraft Inc. " 1 Aug 1988
Airlift International (Riddle Airlines) " Dec 1988
William Seidle Trustee - US Federal Bankruptcy 23 Dec 1988
Airlift International N276RD 1 Sep 1989
- Airlift Int. ceased operations Jun 1991
- stored at Miami Jun 1991
- seriously damaged in Hurricane Andrew 24 Aug 1992
- scrapped at Miami 15 Oct 1993
Hijacking Incident: On 16 Dec 1971 CP-863 was flying the Sucre to La Paz route with pilot Capt. Marcelo Maldonado at the controls, assisted by co-pilot Carlos Gamarra. On board were 34 passengers including the La Paz soccer team Club Municipal. A man with a pistol confronted the crew and said that he was hijacking the plane and wanted to be taken to Arica, Chile. Capt. Maldonado convinced him that they would need additional fuel and that they should land in Cochabamba to refuel and allow all (?) or some of the passengers to depart.
The following is an approximate translation of the story as related in the excellent article "Aviones Fokker y Fairchild F-27 en Bolivia" by aviacionboliviano.net referenced above: The hijacker agreed but was nervous and was becoming more violent toward the crew. Once on the ground in Cochabamba, the situation spiraled out of control as a squad of local security police (the DIC) stormed the plane led by a junior official, Alfredo Cassis. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire Capt. Maldonado and the hijacker were killed and the co-pilot was wounded. Then when one of the passengers, the soccer team trainer, started to berate the DIC official Cassis for his irresponsible actions, the policeman shot the trainer at point-blank range and fled the scene.
Additional information is contained in an article on aerospotter.blogspot.com - Roll Out - Recuerdo de Marcelo Maldonado: According to the article, the hijacker's name was Wifredo Urdininea and he was a member of a terrorist group with ties to Cuba. No mention was made of the incident with the soccer team trainer and Mr. Cassis.
| Formerly CP-863 Photo from the Krijn Oostlander Collection - fokkerairliners.nl
|
| Photo by Reinhard Zinabold - fokkerairliners.nl |
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| CP-1116 - Photo: Jacques Vooren Collection |
CP-1116
Fairchild F-27J
c/n 111
History:
Fairchild Hiller Corp. N2701A Jun 1965
Allegheny Airlines N2701J 30 Oct 1965
- wfu at Marana AZ 1971-1974
Allegheny Airlines " 1974
- converted from -27J to -27M
Aerobecasa CP-1116 26 Nov 1974
LAB " Jan 1977
- accident in CBB ? 1984
- broken up at Santa Cruz ? 20 Dec 1984
| CP-1116 of Aerobecasa Photo: Jacques Vooren Collection |
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| Photo from the Jacques Voreen Collection |
CP-1117
Fairchild F-27J c/n 118
History:
Fairchild Hiller built: 1965
Allegheny Airlines N2707J 23 Dec 1965
Great Northern Airways - Canada CF-GNJ 1 Jul 1968
Allegheny Airlines N2707J 17 Nov 1970
- in storage at Marana-Pinal AZ 1973
- repossessed 1974
?? " 1974
- converted from -27J to -27M
Aerobecasa - Bolivia CP-1117 4 Oct 1974
LAB " 1977
- accident w/o 2 June 1980
The accident: On 2 June 1980 on a scheduled flight approaching Yacuiba, CP-1117 crashed into the Tapecua hills. No survivors of the three crew members and ten passengers. Very little information available on this tragic accident.
| Photo: ASN, Werner F. |
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CP-1175
Fairchild F-27J
c/n 121
History:
Fairchild Hiller built: 1966
Allegheny Airlines N2710J 8 Feb 1966
- stored at Indianapolis IN 1971-1972
Winair - Winward Islands Airways " Nov 1972
Air South " Jun 1974
Allegheny Airlines " Sep 1974
" - converted from -27J to -27M Oct 1974
LAB CP-1175 17 Dec 1974
- accident w/o 22 Jan 1980
The accident: On 22 Jan 1980 at the Santa Ana de Yacuma airport, the aircraft ran off the taxiway into a ditch. The nose gear failed causing a propeller to break off, damaging a fuel tank and causing a fire which destroyed the plane. No fatalities as the eighteen passengers and three crew were able to escape unharmed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off by LAB.
| Photo: LAB Virtual |
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| Photo: Jacques Vooren collection |
CP-1176 Fairchild F-27J c/n 119
History:
Fairchild Hiller Built: 1966
Allegheny Airlines N2708J 12 Jan 1966
Winair - Windward Island Airways - leased " Jan 1973
Allegheny Airlines - returned " May 1974
Allegheny Airlines " Feb 1975
- converted to -27M
LAB CP-1176 26 Mar 1975
Oklahoma Aircraft Corp. N277PH 1 May 1983
Horizon Air " 1 May 1983
DeHavilland Canada " Feb 1986
Horizon Air " Feb 1986
DeHavilland Canada " Dec 1986
Boeing Equipment Holding " Nov 1987
North American Aircraft Inc. " Aug 1988
Airlift International " Dec 1988
Airlift International N277RD Jun 1989
- stored at Miami Jun 1991
Islena Airlines - Honduras HR-IAN Aug 1992
- wfu " Jul 1993
North American Sales " 21 Apr 1994
- stored at Opa Locka FL Dec 1996
Aviation Management Support " ?
Islena Airlines "
- broken up early 1998
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F-GBRU
| F-GBRU in Choreti (Camiri) in 1981(?) |
| Notice the tail ! - Photo by AlphaJet.JPB - airliners.net |
Fairchild F-27J c/n 43
History:
Fairchild Airplane Corp.
Built: 1959
Pacific Airlines N2771R
2 Apr 1959
Air West - Merged " 7 Mar 1968
Hughes Air West " 1 Apr 1970
Hughes Air West - converted to -27J " 1974
Air Liberia EL-AHI 14 Feb 1974
Hughes Air West N2771R 14 May 1975
Summa Corp. - parent co. of Hughes AW " 17 Dec 1979
TAT - Touraine Air Transport F-GBRU 22 Feb 1980
Uni-Air -- Taiwan " Apr 1981
TAT " Oct 1981
TAT - Transport Aerien Transregional " 1 Apr 1984
Swed Air " May 1984
TAT " 18 Feb 1985
LAB " 21 Feb 1985
TAT " 6 Jul 1987
- wfu at Dinard airport, France 1989
- broken up abt 1992
| TAT Fairchild F-27A - Photo by Christian Volpati |
| Swed Air - Photo by Johan Ljungdahl - airliners.net |
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F-GBRV
Fairchild F-27A c/n 44
History:
Fairchild Airplane Corp. Built: 1959 First flight:
Pacific Airlines N2772R 18 Apr 1959
Bonanza Airlines - leased " 1 Apr 1964
Pacific Airlines " 1 Aug 1964
Air West - merged " 7 Mar 1968
Hughes Airwest " 1 Apr 1970
Hughes Airwest " 1974
- converted to -27J "
Air Liberia EL-AHJ 29 Jan 1974
Hughes Airwest N2772R 5 Jun 1975
Summa Corp. - parent co. of Hughes AW " 14 Aug 1979
TAT - Touraine Air Transport F-GBRV 31 Aug 1979
Air Martinique " Feb 1980
TAT " May 1981
Air Guadeloupe " 2 Oct 1982
TAT " 20 Nov 1982
TAT - Transport Aerien Transregional " 1 Apr 1984
LAB - leased " 24 Jan 1985
TAT - returned " 4 Aug 1987
ACE Transvalair - France - leased " Jan 1990
- wfu at Dinard, France Jul 1991
Sky-Service - leased " 1993
TAT " Aug 1993
- wfu Aug 1993
- broken up at Dinard by 1997
| Photo by Frank C. Duarte Jr. - jetphotos.net |
| Photo by Udo K. Haafke - airliners.net |
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Fokker F27
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CP-2013
| At CBB in 2004 - Photo by Aero Icarus |
Fokker F27 Mk200 Friendship c/n 10138
History:
Fokker
PH-FBF - roll out 3 Nov 1959
- first flight 4 Nov 1959
TAA - Trans Australia Airlines VH-TFK 30 Nov 1959
Associated Airlines of Australia " 1 Jul 1960
- accident
TAA " 9 Dec 1960
TAA - Airlines of New Guinea " 12 Oct 1969
Air Niugini " 1 Nov 1973
Air Niugini P2-TFK 1 Jun 1974
Air Niugini P2-AND 1 Nov 1975
Connair - Australia VH-TFK 15 Jun 1979
East-West Airlines - purchased Connair " 24 Feb 1980
Ward's Express - leased " Apr 1980
- wfu or returned Nov 1981
Fokker " 23 Feb 1984
Fokker PH-FBF 9 Mar 1984
LAB CP-2013 3 Aug 1985
- donated to Bolivia by the Dutch government
- named "Reina Beatrix", later "Guayaramerin", also "Cobija"
FAB " Apr 2006
- ntu never flown
Ejercito de Bolivia " 14 Nov 2011
- operational in 2015
Accident: On 22 Jan 1960 after landing at the Mackay airport in Australia, the aircraft, VH-TFK, suffered a failure of the starboard landing gear, causing substantial damage to the plane, but no severe injuries to the six passengers and two crew. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
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CP-2165
| Photo by Werner Fishdick - aviation-safety.net |
Fokker
F27 Mk600 Friendship c/n 10592
History:
Fokker PH-EXG Roll out: 26 Jul 1979
First flight: 14 Aug 1979
Swift Aire Lines N421SA 14 Jan 1980
Air North " 25 Apr 1982
Brockway Air - merger " 1 Nov 1984
Piedmont Commuter " 1 Nov 1984
Fokker PH-GDG 10 Jul 1987
LAB CP-2165 10 Jul 1987
- transported Pope John Paul II in part of visit to Bolivia May 1988
- accident w/o 22 Dec 1994
The accident: On Thursday 22 Dec 1994 at 07:00 hrs. the aircraft overran the runway at Guayaramerin airport following a takeoff abort and crashed into trees. All 36 passengers and four crew survived the accident. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off (w/o). The planned destination of the flight had been San Joaquin, Bolivia.
From the Aviation Safety Network:
"Just before V1 (107 kts.) the no. 2 engine auto-feathered. The take-off was aborted and the aircraft overran runway 17 coming to rest against trees 120 m from the runway".
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CP-2282
| Photo by Marc van Zon - airliners.net |
Fokker F27-400M Friendship c/n 10600
History:
Fokker PH-EXD Roll out: 15 Feb 1980
First flight: 21 May 1980
Fokker PH-FTV 14 Aug 1980
TAM - Transporte Aereo Militar TAM-94 7 Feb 1981
FAB - Fuerza Aerea Boliviana FAB-94 Sep 1994
LAB - leased CP-2282 Dec 1995
FAB FAB-94
- wfu and stored for several years by FAB during the 90's
TAM - leased ? FAB-94 by 2000
- accident w/o 22 Jan 2002
Accident: Aircraft was damaged beyond repair (dbr) and written off after a landing accident at Guayaramerin on 22 Jan 2002. At the time the aircraft was being operated by TAM.
According to the Aviation Safety Network website:
"Seven minutes from Guayaramerin, the no.1 engine failed. A single engine approach and landing was carried out. On landing, the Friendship overran the runway, [went] through the perimeter fence and [into] a ditch. The nosegear collapsed, the right hand main gear leg separated and the right wing broke."
There were no fatalities among the 40 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The origin of the flight is unknown.
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Latest comments
Los K-8 llegaron a Bolivia recién en 2011,no en 1993. La pista podría ser la de Tarija.
FRIMO= Frigorífico Movima, empresa de carga de los años 70- 80
Thank you for creating this website on the LAB fleet. I am writing a book, set in 1996, flight Riberalto, Bolivia to La Paz Bolivia & my research led me here. It was incredibly informative & helpful!
Steeling my pictures from La Paz 1973 they have my copyright, no permission is ask