| Fokker Friendship |
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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. The manufacturer evaluated a number of different configurations before finally deciding on a high Wing twin Rolls-Royce Dart engined layout with a pressurised cabin for 28 passengers. The first Prototype , PH-NIV, first flew on 24 November 1955 . The second prototype and initial production machines were 3 ft (0.9 m) longer, addressing the first aircraft's slightly tail-heavy handling and also providing space for more passengers. These aircraft also used the more powerful Dart Mk 528 engine. In 1956 Fokker signed a licensing deal with the US aircraft manufacturer Fairchild for the latter to construct the aircraft in the USA. The first U.S.-built aircraft flew on 12 April 1958 . The first production model of the F27, the F27-100, seated 44 passengers, with initial deliveries to Aer Lingus in September 1958. The next model, the -200, used the Dart Mk 532 engine. The most ubiquitous model, the -500, had a 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) longer Fuselage , a return to the Dart Mk 528 engine, and accommodation for 52 passengers. It first flew in November 1967 . In 1985 two F27-400Ms were leased by the US Army parachute team, the Golden Knights . Subsequently two aircraft were purchased and designated C-31A Troopship. The aircraft were used both to transport the team to airshows and as their jumping platform. They replaced the C-7 Caribou and C-8 Buffalo aircraft that the team had previously used. Other versions include:
In the early 1980s , Fokker developed a successor to the Friendship, the Fokker F50 , with upgraded engines and systems. Specifications :Length: 77 ft 2 in (23.5 m) :Span: 95 ft 2 in (29.0 m) :Wing area: 753 ft&2 (70.0 m&2) :Max takeoff weight: 42,000 lb (19,050 kg) :Max Cruising speed: 300 mph (483 km/h) :Range: 912 miles (1,468 km) :Service ceiling: 32,600 ft (9900 m) :Engines: 2x Rolls-Royce Dart Mk528 turboprops For F27-400M (US Military Designation C-31A Troopship): :Wingspan: 95 ft (29.0 m) :Wing area: 753 ft&2 (70.0 m&2) :Length: 77 ft (23.5 m) :Height: 28 ft (8.5 m) :Max takeoff wt: 45,000 lb (20,400 kg) :Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Dart 7 Turboprops :Speed: 300 mph (480 km/h) :Range: 1,500 mi (2,400 km) :Ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m) :Max payload: 12,000 lb (5,440 kg) :Crew: 3 :Capacity: 50 paratroopers or 56 infantry troops, or 24 litters F-27 operators past and present The F-27 is one of the most widely used airliners in the world, though the Douglas DC-3 holds the record. Many aircraft have passed from passenger service into cargo or express-package freighter roles. Pakistan International Airlines has been operating Fokker F-27 aircraft in the difficult terrain of Northern Areas of Pakistan . It currently has seven F-27 aircraft in its fleet which will be retired by the end of 2006.
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