The Fairchild F-27 is the American-built version of the Fokker F27 Friendship, a popular and highly successful twin-turboprop regional airliner developed in the 1950s. Produced under license by Fairchild Aircraft in the U.S., the F-27 was tailored for the North American market and helped introduce modern turboprop travel to regional airlines with improved speed, comfort, and reliability compared to piston-powered predecessors like the DC-3.

🛩️ Overview:

• Role: Short-haul regional turboprop airliner
• Manufacturer: Fairchild Aircraft (under license from Fokker)
• First U.S. flight: April 12, 1958
• Introduced: 1958 (by West Coast Airlines)
• Based on: Fokker F27 Friendship
• Total built (U.S.): ~128 (plus several derivatives)

🛠️ Key Specifications (F-27A example):

• Engines: 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart 528 turboprops
• Power: ~1,870 shp (1,395 kW) each
• Wingspan: 95 ft 2 in (29.0 m)
• Length: 77 ft 2 in (23.5 m)
• Cruise speed: ~250–280 knots (460–520 km/h)
• Range: ~1,100–1,300 nautical miles (2,000+ km)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
• Passenger capacity: 40–48 (typical)
• Crew: 2–3

✨ Key Features:

• High-wing design for great visibility and ground clearance
• Pressurized cabin (a major advancement over older regional types like the DC-3)
• Excellent short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance
• Robust landing gear made it suitable for unprepared or rural airstrips
• Proven Dart engines offered good fuel economy and reliability
• Quick turnaround times—great for regional shuttle service

🔁 Variants (Fairchild-built):

🔹 F-27

• Initial production version, similar to Fokker's F27 Mk 100

🔹 F-27A

• Improved engines and increased payload capacity

🔹 F-27B

• Freighter or convertible passenger/freight version

🔹 F-27F

• High-performance version with upgraded engines and avionics

🔹 FH-227

• Stretched version (like the Fokker F27 Mk 500), seating up to 56 passengers
• Unique to Fairchild—longer fuselage than standard F-27s

🛡️ Military and Government Use:

• Used by the U.S. Army and Navy for logistics, training, and VIP transport
• Operated by foreign air forces for cargo, troop transport, and surveillance
• Several civilian F-27s later converted for airborne research and aerial survey missions

✈️ Operators:

• Regional airlines: West Coast Airlines, Piedmont, Allegheny, Bonanza, Aloha Airlines
• International operators: Several Latin American, African, and Asian airlines
• Cargo operators: Later used by FedEx and small freight airlines as turboprop freighters

🔥 Fun Facts:

• West Coast Airlines operated the first turbine-powered scheduled airliner service in the U.S. using the F-27 in 1958
• Known for its smooth, quiet ride (by turboprop standards) and strong reputation for safety and economy
• The F-27 was widely loved by pilots for its sturdy construction and forgiving flight characteristics

🏁 Legacy:

The Fairchild F-27 was a game-changer in regional aviation, bringing modern turboprop comfort and reliability to shorter routes and smaller communities. It helped transition U.S. regional airlines into the jet age and paved the way for successors like the Fairchild Metro, ATR series, and Dash 8.

Many retired F-27s still exist in museums, and a few survive in freight or survey operations.