F.50
The Fokker 50
Official: Fokker F.27-050
Developments in aviation at the beginning of the 1980s required a more radical renewal than the incremental improvements that had kept the F.27 Friendship modern year after year.
This led to the Fokker 50. And although this aircraft looks very similar to its illustrious predecessor, only 10 percent of the components of both aircraft are identical.
The engine choice fell on the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 series gas turbine engine, with a 6-bladed plastic propeller.
Despite the major innovations, Fokker decided to maintain the proven concept of the F.27, such as fuselage, wings, etc.
Composite materials were used extensively in the construction of the Fokker 50.
The large oval windows of the F.27 made way for a considerably larger number of small, square windows. This gave more passengers a better view outside, compared to the Friendship.
The Fokker 50 could carry a maximum of 56 passengers.
The wings were given small winglets and the rudder was given a horn balance, all for better flying characteristics.
The Fokker 50 underwent its maiden flight on December 28, 1985.
The first production machine was delivered to the German DLT on August 7, 1987.
There were both passenger and military versions of the Fokker 50.
In the Netherlands, KLM flew 20 examples and the Royal Netherlands Air Force flew 2.
Dozens of operators inside and outside Europe used the Fokker 50 in their fleet.
Before Fokker's bankruptcy in 1996, 214 Fokker 50s were built.
As with the F.27, Fokker 50 components were built by different companies in different countries:
• The hulls were built by the French Dassault-Breguet in Biarritz,
• SABCA in Belgium built the outer wings,
• the moving parts of the wing, such as the flaps and ailerons, and also the dorsal fin, came from Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm in West Germany,
• Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan was responsible for the rudder and elevators,
• the Fokker companies in Dordrecht and Papendrecht build the fuselage front and the center wing,
• the Fokker plastics companies in Hoogeveen and Ypenburg were responsible for the composite parts and
• the Woensdrecht branch assembled all cable harnesses with associated connections.
Explanation of the official name:
On the official Type Certificate and Certificate of Registration the Fokker 50 is listed as Fokker F.27-050.
Because many large components of the Fokker F.27 were used for the Fokker 50, the Fokker 50 did not need to be completely recertified. This included the structure of the fuselage, large parts of the wings and the landing gear. For these parts, an adjusted F.27 certificate was sufficient.
Hence the official listing reads: Fokker F.27-050.
This led to the Fokker 50. And although this aircraft looks very similar to its illustrious predecessor, only 10 percent of the components of both aircraft are identical.
The engine choice fell on the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 series gas turbine engine, with a 6-bladed plastic propeller.
Despite the major innovations, Fokker decided to maintain the proven concept of the F.27, such as fuselage, wings, etc.
Composite materials were used extensively in the construction of the Fokker 50.
The large oval windows of the F.27 made way for a considerably larger number of small, square windows. This gave more passengers a better view outside, compared to the Friendship.
The Fokker 50 could carry a maximum of 56 passengers.
The wings were given small winglets and the rudder was given a horn balance, all for better flying characteristics.
The Fokker 50 underwent its maiden flight on December 28, 1985.
The first production machine was delivered to the German DLT on August 7, 1987.
There were both passenger and military versions of the Fokker 50.
In the Netherlands, KLM flew 20 examples and the Royal Netherlands Air Force flew 2.
Dozens of operators inside and outside Europe used the Fokker 50 in their fleet.
Before Fokker's bankruptcy in 1996, 214 Fokker 50s were built.
As with the F.27, Fokker 50 components were built by different companies in different countries:
• The hulls were built by the French Dassault-Breguet in Biarritz,
• SABCA in Belgium built the outer wings,
• the moving parts of the wing, such as the flaps and ailerons, and also the dorsal fin, came from Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm in West Germany,
• Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan was responsible for the rudder and elevators,
• the Fokker companies in Dordrecht and Papendrecht build the fuselage front and the center wing,
• the Fokker plastics companies in Hoogeveen and Ypenburg were responsible for the composite parts and
• the Woensdrecht branch assembled all cable harnesses with associated connections.
Explanation of the official name:
On the official Type Certificate and Certificate of Registration the Fokker 50 is listed as Fokker F.27-050.
Because many large components of the Fokker F.27 were used for the Fokker 50, the Fokker 50 did not need to be completely recertified. This included the structure of the fuselage, large parts of the wings and the landing gear. For these parts, an adjusted F.27 certificate was sufficient.
Hence the official listing reads: Fokker F.27-050.
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