Fairchild Hiller FH-227
Encyclopedia
The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship
twin-engined turboprop
passenger aircraft
manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States
. The Fairchild F-27 (written with a dash) was similar to the standard Fokker
F27, while the FH-227 was an independently-developed stretched version.
, the Fokker F27 Friendship series, including the Fairchild-built F-27 and FH-227, was built in greater numbers than any other western turboprop airliner.
The Fokker F27 began life as a 1950 design study known as the P275, a 32 seater powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart
turboprops. With the aid of Dutch government funding, the P275 evolved into the F27, which first flew on November 24, 1955. The first prototype was powered by Dart 507s and would have seated 28. To correct a slight tail-heaviness and to allow for more seats, the second prototype (which first flew in January 1957) had a 3 foot (0.9144 m) fuselage
, which would allow seating for 32.
By this stage Fokker had signed an agreement that would see Fairchild build Friendships in the USA as the F-27. The first aircraft of either manufacturer to enter service was in fact a Fairchild-built F-27, with West Coast Airlines in September 1958.
Fairchild F-27s differed from the initial Fokker F27 Mk 100s in having basic seating for 40, heavier external skinning, a lengthened nose capable of housing a weather radar
, and additional fuel capacity.
A most important difference between the Fairchild and the Fokker versions was that Fairchild incorporated a passenger loading airstair door into the rear of the aircraft, which was operated by the flight attendant for quick passenger loading and unloading. Fokker never built such a door and operators have spent hundreds of thousands of hours pushing loading steps up to and away from hundreds of Fokker airplanes over 50 years!
Developments were the F-27A with more powerful engines; and the F-27B Combi
version.
Fairchild independently developed the stretched FH-227, which appeared almost two years earlier than Fokker's similar F27 Mk 500. The FH-227 featured a 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) stretch over standard length F27/F-27s, taking standard seating to 56, with a larger cargo area between the cockpit and the passenger cabin.
In addition to the 581 F27s built by Fokker, 128 F-27s and 78 FH-227s were built. In February 2010, only one Fairchild FH-227 aircraft remained in active service being used by the Myanmar Air Force (FH-227E serial number 501).
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
twin-engined turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
passenger aircraft
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Fairchild F-27 (written with a dash) was similar to the standard Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
F27, while the FH-227 was an independently-developed stretched version.
Design and development
Probably the closest to being a true replacement for the fabled Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
, the Fokker F27 Friendship series, including the Fairchild-built F-27 and FH-227, was built in greater numbers than any other western turboprop airliner.
The Fokker F27 began life as a 1950 design study known as the P275, a 32 seater powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart
Rolls-Royce Dart
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:*...
turboprops. With the aid of Dutch government funding, the P275 evolved into the F27, which first flew on November 24, 1955. The first prototype was powered by Dart 507s and would have seated 28. To correct a slight tail-heaviness and to allow for more seats, the second prototype (which first flew in January 1957) had a 3 foot (0.9144 m) fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
, which would allow seating for 32.
Fairchild F-27s differed from the initial Fokker F27 Mk 100s in having basic seating for 40, heavier external skinning, a lengthened nose capable of housing a weather radar
Weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type . Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the...
, and additional fuel capacity.
A most important difference between the Fairchild and the Fokker versions was that Fairchild incorporated a passenger loading airstair door into the rear of the aircraft, which was operated by the flight attendant for quick passenger loading and unloading. Fokker never built such a door and operators have spent hundreds of thousands of hours pushing loading steps up to and away from hundreds of Fokker airplanes over 50 years!
Developments were the F-27A with more powerful engines; and the F-27B Combi
Combi
In commercial aviation, the term combi refers to versions of various aircraft that can be used for either passenger, as an airliner would, or cargo duties, as a freighter would, and often have a partition in the aircraft cabin to allow both uses at once...
version.
Fairchild independently developed the stretched FH-227, which appeared almost two years earlier than Fokker's similar F27 Mk 500. The FH-227 featured a 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) stretch over standard length F27/F-27s, taking standard seating to 56, with a larger cargo area between the cockpit and the passenger cabin.
Production
Notable accidents
- On 25 February 1962 an AvensaAvensaAvensa was a Venezuelan airline headquartered in Caracas. It is in the process of financial restructuring, after it went into bankruptcy due to poor management in 2002...
F-27A crashed into a mountain1962 Avensa Fairchild F-27 accidentThe 1962 Avensa Fairchild F-27 accident occurred on the 25 February 1962 when a Fokker F27 twin-engined turboprop airliner registered YV-C-EVH of Avensa crashed into San Juan mountain on Margarita Island...
on Margarita IslandIsla MargaritaMargarita Island is the largest island of the state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela, situated in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción, located in a river...
killing all 23 on board.
- On 14 March 1970 a ParaenseParaense Transportes AéreosParaense Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1952. It ceased operations in 1970.-History:Paraense Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded on February 18, 1952 by Antônio Alves Affonso Ramos Junior and made its maiden flight on March 30 of the same year, using a...
Fairchild Hiller FH-227B registration PP-BUF flying from Recife to Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
, while on final approach to land at Belém, crashed into Guajará Bay. Of the 40 passengers and crew, 2 survived.
- On Friday 13 October 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, also known as the Andes flight disaster, and in South America as Miracle in the Andes was a chartered flight carrying 45 people, including a rugby team, their friends, family and associates that crashed in the Andes on October 13, 1972...
, an FH-227D carrying 45 people, crashed in the Andes mountains. The event became known as the Andes flight disaster, and was the subject matter upon which the 1974 book Alive: The Story of the Andes SurvivorsAlive: The Story of the Andes SurvivorsAlive: The Story of the Andes Survivors is a 1974 book by the British writer Piers Paul Read documenting the events of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571.-Story:...
and the 1993 film AliveAlive (1993 film)Alive is a 1993 American movie based upon Piers Paul Read's 1974 book Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, which details the story of a Uruguayan rugby team who were involved in the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which crashed into the Andes mountains on October 13, 1972.The film was...
were based.
- On July 23, 1973, Ozark Air Lines Flight 809Ozark Air Lines Flight 809Ozark Air Lines Flight 809 was a regularly scheduled flight from Nashville, Tennessee to St. Louis, Missouri, with intermediate stops at Clarksville, Tennessee, Paducah, Kentucky, Cape Giradeau, Missouri, and Marion, Illinois. On July 23, 1973, while landing at St. Louis, it crashed, killing 38...
was operated by one of the company's Fairchild-Hiller FH-227's, registration N4215. The flight was scheduled to go from Nashville, Tennessee to St. Louis, Missouri, with 4 intermediate stops. The segments to Clarksville, Paducah, Cape Girardeau, and Marion proceeded normally. Crashed in storm downdraft on final approach to St. Louis. 68 fatalities, 6 survivors.
- On 24 January 1980, a Burma Air Force FH-227 crashed due to engine failure shortly after take-off, killing all but one of the 44 people on board. One person on the ground was injured.
- On 12 June 1982, a TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia AmazônicaTABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia AmazônicaTABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica was a Brazilian airline founded in 1976. It ceased operations in 1999.-History:On November 11, 1975 the Brazilian Federal Government created the Brazilian Integrated System of Regional Air Transportation and divided the country in five different regions,...
Fairchild Hiller FH-227 registration PT-LBV en route from EirunepéEirunepé AirportAmaury Feitosa Tomaz Airport is the airport serving Eirunepé, Brazil.-Accidents and incidents:*31 January 1978: a TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante registration PT-GKW crashed upon take-off from Eirunepé...
to TabatingaTabatinga International AirportTabatinga International Airport is the airport serving Tabatinga, Brazil, located by the border with Colombia and Peru.It is operated by Infraero.-Accidents and incidents:...
on approach to Tabatinga collided with a pole in poor visibility and crashed onto a parking lot. All 40 passengers and 4 crew died.
- On 9 December 1982, an Aeronor Chile F-27A was operating as Flight 304 on a scheduled domestic service from Santiago to La Serena, Chile. On final approach to La Serena's La Florida AirportLa Florida Airport (Chile)La Florida Airport is an airport in La Serena, Chile. This is the only Chilean airport with an east–west runway; because of the shape of the country, all others run north–south.-Airlines and destinations:-History:...
the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames on impact. All 42 passengers and four crew on board died.
- On 4 March 1988, a Touraine Air Transport FH-227B operating a scheduled service from Nancy to Paris Orly crashed near FontainebleauFontainebleauFontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
, France, killing all 23 occupants. An electrical malfunction during the start of the aircraft's descent had resulted in a sudden loss of control.
- On 6 June 1990, a TABATABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia AmazônicaTABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica was a Brazilian airline founded in 1976. It ceased operations in 1999.-History:On November 11, 1975 the Brazilian Federal Government created the Brazilian Integrated System of Regional Air Transportation and divided the country in five different regions,...
Fairchild Hiller FH-227 registration PT-ICA flying from Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
to CuiabáMarechal Rondon International AirportMarechal Rondon International Airport is the airport serving Cuiabá, Brazil, located in the adjoining municipality of Várzea Grande. It is named after Marshall Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon , a Brazilian explorer.It is operated by Infraero....
via AltamiraAltamira AirportAltamira Airport is the airport serving Altamira, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
, SantarémSantarém-Maestro Wilson Fonseca AirportSantarém–Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport is the airport serving Santarém, Brazil. It is named after the composer Wilson Dias da Fonseca , who was born in Santarém.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
, ItaitubaItaituba AirportItaituba Airport is the airport serving Itaituba, Brazil.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:*26 April 1994: a Penta Cessna 208A Caravan registration PP-OGI flying from Itaituba to Jacareacanga under poor visibility and below minimums crashed shortly before touch-down at...
and Alta FlorestaAlta Floresta AirportPiloto Oswaldo Marques Dias Airport is the airport serving Alta Floresta, Brazil.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:...
, while on approach to land at Altamira, descended below the approach path, collided with trees and crashed 850m short of the runway. Of the 43 passengers and crew, 22 died.
- On 25 January 1993, a TABATABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia AmazônicaTABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica was a Brazilian airline founded in 1976. It ceased operations in 1999.-History:On November 11, 1975 the Brazilian Federal Government created the Brazilian Integrated System of Regional Air Transportation and divided the country in five different regions,...
Fairchild Hiller FH-227 registration PT-LCS operating a cargo flight from Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
to AltamiraAltamira AirportAltamira Airport is the airport serving Altamira, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
crashed into the jungle near Altamira during night-time approach procedures. The crew of 3 died.
- On 28 November 1995, a TABATABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia AmazônicaTABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica was a Brazilian airline founded in 1976. It ceased operations in 1999.-History:On November 11, 1975 the Brazilian Federal Government created the Brazilian Integrated System of Regional Air Transportation and divided the country in five different regions,...
Fairchild Hiller FH-227 registration PP-BUJ operating a cargo flight from Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
to SantarémSantarém-Maestro Wilson Fonseca AirportSantarém–Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport is the airport serving Santarém, Brazil. It is named after the composer Wilson Dias da Fonseca , who was born in Santarém.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
crashed on its second attempt to approach Santarém. The crew of 2 and 1 of the 2 occupants died.