Fokker F28 Fellowship

Fokker F28 Fellowship
Rolf Wallner · GFDL 1.2 · source
Name	Fokker F28 Fellowship
Type	Short-range jet airliner
Manufacturer	Fokker
First flight	9 May 1967
Introduced	1969
Status	Retired (commercial), limited military and VIP use
Primary user	KLM, Braathens SAFE, Ansett, LOT, Garuda Indonesia

Fokker F28 Fellowship The Fokker F28 Fellowship was a twin-engined, short-range jet airliner developed by Fokker in the 1960s to serve the regional market alongside types like the de Havilland Comet and BAC One-Eleven. It entered service with European and international carriers during the late 1960s and 1970s, competing with the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, BAC 1-11, and British Aircraft Corporation designs while operating on routes for airlines such as KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, and Ansett Australia. The airframe was notable for its rear-mounted engines and T-tail configuration, which influenced regional jet development through the 1980s alongside work at manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.

Design and development

Fokker initiated the F28 project to replace piston and turboprop types used by carriers including KLM and Scandinavian Airlines System; the program drew on experience from earlier Fokker designs such as the Fokker F27 Friendship. Chief engineers coordinated design offices in Amsterdam and Hoofddorp, engaging suppliers like Rolls-Royce and General Electric for engine options and collaborating with institutions including NLR (Netherlands Aerospace Centre). The prototype, powered by Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans, featured a straight low-to-mid fuselage with a high-mounted T-tail and rear-fuselage pylon-mounted engines, a layout shared with contemporaries such as the Sud Aviation Caravelle.

Fokker refined airframe structures using metalworking techniques developed during postwar projects and aerodynamic studies referencing research at Cranfield University and NASA facilities. Certification required coordination with national authorities including the Dutch Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration for export customers. Production used subassembly work from European partners across the Benelux and West Germany, and the program benefited from civil procurement by flag carriers in Europe and Asia.

Operational history

Entry-into-service occurred with KLM Cityhopper and other European operators; early commercial routes included short-haul sectors linking hubs such as Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Oslo Gardermoen Airport, and Stockholm Arlanda Airport. The type served airlines across continents, including Ansett Australia, Garuda Indonesia, Austrian Airlines, Aer Lingus, and LOT Polish Airlines, and saw government and military VIP use by states like Netherlands and Cuba. Airline operations placed the F28 on schedules alongside the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 737-200, with fleets adapted to regional airport constraints at aerodromes such as Kai Tak Airport and Tromsø Airport.

Maintenance programs evolved with support from overhaul facilities in Schiphol, Berlin Tegel Airport, and Melbourne Airport, while upgrades in avionics mirrored trends at firms like Honeywell and Thales Group. The F28 operated in varied environments, from European short sectors to tropical routes in Southeast Asia and vast domestic networks in Australia, before phased retirement in favor of Fokker 70, Bombardier CRJ, and Embraer ERJ family jets.

Variants

Fokker developed multiple versions to meet market needs: the initial short-fuselage production model, stretched and shortened versions, and long-range or high-capacity subtypes adapted for operators including Braathens SAFE and Aero Mexico. Military and VIP conversions were completed for users such as the Royal Netherlands Air Force and several civil governments. Engine options and avionics fit varied by variant, incorporating powerplants from Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney where required by customers like LOT and Ansett.

Operators

Major civil operators included KLM, Ansett Australia, Garuda Indonesia, LOT Polish Airlines, Braathens SAFE, Austrian Airlines, Aer Lingus, and carriers in Africa and South America. Government operators and air forces used the type for VIP, transport, and training roles; notable organizations included the Royal Netherlands Air Force and several Latin American air arms. Regional and commuter carriers across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa employed F28s through the 1970s–1990s.

Accidents and incidents

The F28 experienced several hull-loss accidents during its operational life involving airlines such as Aer Lingus and other carriers, with causes ranging from approach/landing incidents at airports including Kai Tak Airport to runway excursions and controlled flight into terrain investigations overseen by authorities like the Dutch Safety Board and national accident investigation agencies. Investigations influenced operational procedures, crew training at institutions like IATA, and regulatory changes implemented by authorities including the FAA and European counterparts.

Specifications

Typical specifications for a production variant included twin turbofan engines, seating for approximately 65–85 passengers depending on configuration, a range suitable for short-haul sectors between hubs such as Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Copenhagen Airport, and performance characteristics comparable to contemporaries like the BAC 1-11 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9. Systems and avionics paralleled industry suppliers including Honeywell, Garmin, and Thales Group for later upgrades.

Preservation and surviving aircraft

Examples of the type are preserved in aviation museums and collections such as the Aviodrome at Lelystad Airport, the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, and other national institutions across Europe and Oceania. Several airframes remain on static display and in VIP or military service, maintained by heritage groups and restoration organizations in cities like Amsterdam, Melbourne, and Warsaw.

Category:Fokker aircraft