NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Fokker F-27 Friendship is the most produced Western built turboprop airliner. The aircraft was produced from 1955 until 1987.
Fairchild obtained a license to manufacture the Fokker F-27 Friendship in the United States in 1956. It became the first U.S. manufactured turboprop airliner to enter service.
The concept of the Fokker F-27 was as an aircraft capable of economic operation when flying to small airports that did not support larger airliners. Operators appreciated its wide doors and low floor that facilitated the loading of cargo. The aircraft acquired a reputation for low maintenance and dependability.
In addition to civil aviation use, the Fokker F-27 is widely used by the military. Their maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) are used throughout the world. They are typically equipped with long range fuel tanks, magnetic anomaly detection sensors, enhanced avionics, sonars, side scan radars, depth charges, torpedoes and missiles for use in both surface shipping and antisubmarine warfare.
A total of 793 Fokker F-27 Friendship aircraft of all types were produced.
Pictured above is the rc Fokker F-27 Friendship built from an Exhib Air kit. The 1/12 scale model radio control airplane has a wingspan of 96" and a length of 78". You can power it with a pair of .60 two stroke engines. Ready to fly weight is around 18 lbs.
A review of the Exhib Air rc Fokker F-27 was published in the September 1977 issue of RC Modeler magazine. The first picture below is from that review. The rc Fokker F-27 Friendship kit has not been produced in a while, but can be occasionally found for sale on eBay. Most recently, Ed Mathews, designer of the kit, has again offered the radio control airplanes for sale. You can find his postings at RC Universe.
The next picture below is of the rc Fokker F-27 scale model radio control airplane, in a Golden Knights paint scheme, built by Johnny Kim from Seoul Korea. It has a wingspan of 71", with a length of 57 3/4", and is driven by a pair of KMS 4120/05 motors. It is powered by two 4000 mAh LiPo batteries. Power of the rc Fokker F-27 is controlled by a pair of 80 Amp speed controllers. Construction is from balsa and plywood, with an
all up weight of around 11 1/2 lbs. Johnny equipped his rc F-27 Friendship with retracts and navigation lights. He tells us that it is "as fast and maneuverable as a fighter plane."
There have been some rc Fokker F-27 Friendship scale plastic models on the market. Two we have found are from Airfax in 1/72 scale and from Doyushe in 1/144 scale.
The last picture below is of the 1/144 scale plastic model rc F-27 Friendship from Welsh Models.
Fokker F-27
