Airfix 1/72 Fokker F27 Troopship AO05003-4

After World War 2, long before the airline industry polarized into long-haul and regional segments, aircraft like the DC-3 were pressed into short range service or on segments were too low to allocate the newer (and more expensive to operate) four-engined airliners. By the early 1950s, Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker developed a new design twin-engine turboprop regional airliner that could carry more passengers at greater speeds than the DC-3 and therefore increase revenue for its operators. This aircraft was the F.27 and it was a great success.

The first F.27s entered service in 1958 and its popularity grew quickly. With a cruise speed of 320 knots and a capacity of more than 50 passengers, the F.27 had twice the passenger capacity of the DC-3 and could get those passengers to their destinations at more than twice the DC-3’s cruise speed. The dawn of turboprop regional airliners was borne and carries on today.

According to sales figures, the F.27 was the most popular European-built turboprop airliner with nearly 800 examples produced. The aircraft was also produced under license by Fairchild in the United States as the US market would become the largest user of the F.27 in the world. While this Fokker is retired out of the airline industry, numerous examples remain in cargo service around the world today.