Fokker - 50
Following on from the great success of their F27 Friendship, Fokker chose the 25th anniversary of the type’s entry into service, to announce the development of a new derivative model, the Fokker 50. The new aircraft was conceived as an updated 50-seater version of the Fokker F27-500 which would take advantage of the major technological advances occurring during the F27’s long production run. The F50 differed from the original F27 in a number of respects, including: new technology 1864kW PW125B turboprops in re-designed nacelles and driving 3.66m diameter, Dowty Rotol six-bladed propellers; an all-new EFIS-equipped cockpit, all-new systems (including a new hydraulic system in place of the previous pneumatic type); a completely redesigned passenger cabin offering much greater flexibility of use and extra sound-proofing; re-sized and re-located doors and an increased number of new, smaller cabin windows; new twin-wheel nose gear; and, more extensive use of composite construction materials including glass-fibre, carbon and aramid. These improvements enabled the F50 to cruise 12% faster with increased economy and greater range than the F27. A proposed Series 200 featuring a 1.62 m fuselage extension became the 68-seat Fokker 60 in 1994. Four F60’s were produced as utility transports for the Dutch Air Force but planned civil production did not materialise. The Series 300, optimised for hot and high performance, featured PW127 turboprops rated at 2050 kW. Dedicated corporate (“Executive”) and mixed traffic (“Utility”) versions of the F50 were offered with increased maximum take-off weights and variants powered by the PW127, were marketed as “F50 High Performance Executive and “F50 High Performance Utility” respectively. Fokker collapsed on 15 March 1996, and F50/60 production coming to an end the following year on completion of the 212th airframe. After becoming a division of Stork Aerospace in late 1996, the new “Fokker Services” launched the Future 50 programme in 2003, with the objective of revitalising second-hand sales. Around 120 F50s and F100 jets were renovated and/or resold as a result of this programme. Fokker Services also developed the F50 E-class freighter for use by the Sweden’s Amapola Flyg and considered offering an F50 freighter with multi-purpose freight-door. Dutch conversion specialist Aircraft Conversions was in the process of turning two F50s into freighters with large cargo doors in late 2005 for scheduled delivery before the end of that year.
