The Fokker F.27 Mk.050 was developed as the successor of the F-27 Friendship.
The Fokker 50 is based on the fuselage of the F-27-500, but incorporates a number
of key design changes. Foremost of the improvements were the Pratt & Whitney
Canada PW125 turboprops driving advanced six blade props, giving a 12% higher
cruising speed and greater fuel economy, and thus range. Two prototypes were built
based on F-27 airframes, the first flying on 28 December 1985. The first production
aircraft flew on 13 February 1987; certification was granted in May 1987. A
total of 205 Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 were built. Production ended after Fokker collapsed
due to financial problems on 15 March 1996 and the last Fokker 50 was
delivered to Ethiopian Airlines in May 1997. |
Part of the KLu VIP fleet were two Fokker 50 aircraft. Both aircraft
entered service in 1996 and are operated by 334 squadron out of
Eindhoven Air Base. Both Fokker-50 aircraft are equiped with
communication, navigation and identification equipment. Fokker 50 with
serial U-05 can accommodate 25 passengers, its sistership U-06 can
accomodate 30 passengers. Fokker F.27 Mk.0502 c/n 20253 flew first on 18
May 1992. The aircraft was registered PH-KXO as a Fokker F27 Mk050 with
Fokker Aircraft BV, Amsterdam, on 8 May 1992. Registration PH-KXO was
cancelled on 11 December 1996 and the aircraft received the military
markings U-05 with the Koninklijke Nederlandse Luchtmacht / Royal
Netherlands Air Force. Fokker F-50 U-05 was named after Fons Prior, one
of the architects of the postwar Dutch Air Force. On 8 August 2012, both Fokker
50 aircraft U-05 and U-06 were withdrawn from use by the Royal Netherlands
Force and offered for sale. Both aircraft were parked at Lelystad airport pending their
sale, and kept in an airworthy situation and flown on a regular base. In September 2014, both aircraft were sold to
Peru for use by the Peruvian Navy. The aircraft were painted by QAPS at Lelystad in
the Peru Naval colors and registered AE-567 and AE-568 in November 2014. Fokker F27 Mark
050 U-05 "Fons Aler" was seen at Groningen Airport Eelde on 8 September 2008. |