The F28 "Fellowship" is an aviation product of the Cold War period, originating from the Netherlands under the storied Fokker brand label. The type was developed as a twin-engined, subsonic regional passenger jet and was produced from 1967 until 1987 to the tune of 241 examples. The design was eventually developed into the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 models. Series introduction was had through Braathens SAFE in March of 1969.
The design was given an aerodynamically-refined tubular fuselage with the cockpit set aft of the short, rounded nosecone. The engines were seated on wingstubs near the rear of the airplane with the tail unit comprised of a single vertical fin and high-mounted horizontal tailplanes. The mainplanes were seated at midships and given some light sweepback along the leading edge and even less sweepback along the trailing edge. For ground-running, there was a retractable wheeled tricycle arrangement.
The F28 was something of a technological / commercial gamble for Fokker who had found success with its previous F27 "Friendship" high-winged, twin-turboprop passenger hauler of 1958 (586 being made). A calculated approach resulted in a sound design and customers soon found the aircraft to be worthy of the purchase, capable of carrying a dozens of passengers at-speed in comfort. The line was progressively updated to extract the most out of the design while also meeting customer demand for newer, quieter, and better performing regional jets.
Variants of the line began with the original F.28 Mk 1000 seating seventy. This was followed by the F.28 Mk 2000 which featured a 57-inch stretch to the fuselage allowing for seating for seventy-nine persons. The F.28 Mk 3000 had extended mainplanes and the F.28 Mk 4000 utilized the stretched form of the Mk 2000 and could seat 85. The ultimately-aborted F.28 Mk 5000 had the shorter fuselage of the Mark 3000 but the extended wingspan with leading edge slats. It was powered by the Rolls-Royce RB183 Mk.555-15H series engine. The F.28 Mk 6000 was a proposed model which was not furthered and the Fairchild 228 was another proposed 50-passenger hauler for the American market - this to be manufactured under the Fairchild-Hiller brand label and powered by the RR RB.203 "Trent" engine.
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Algeria; Argentina; Australia; Bangladesh; Bolivia; Canada; Colombia; Denmark; Ecuador; Finland; Gabon; Germany; Ghana; Guatemala; Indonesia; Italy; Ivory Coast; Jordan; Malaysia; Mexico; Montenegro; Myanmar; Netherlands; Nigeria; Norway; Nauru; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; South Africa; South Korea; Spain; Eswatini; Sweden; Tanzania; Togo; Turkey; United Kingdom; United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.
✓Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
✓Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.
✓VIP Service
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
MULTI-ENGINE
Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.
Length
90.2 ft (27.50 m)
Width/Span
77.1 ft (23.50 m)
Height
27.7 ft (8.45 m)
Empty Wgt
35,594 lb (16,145 kg)
MTOW
65,036 lb (29,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+29,443 lb (+13,355 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Fokker F28-1000 production variant)
monoplane / low-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Fokker F28-1000 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 555-15 non-afterburning engines developing 9,850lb of thrust each.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Fokker F28-1000 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
None. Special-mission equipment may be carried in certain governmental and military marks.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
F28 "Fellowship" - Base Series Designation.
F28.Mk 1000 (F28-1000) - Initial production model of 1969; 70-person seating.
F28.Mk 1000C - Added cargo door.
F28.Mk 2000 (F28-2000) - Model of 1972; based in the Mk 1000 though with lengthened fuselage; 79-person seating; 10 airframes completed.
F28.Mk 3000 (F28-3000) - Model of 1978; lengthened wingspan; reinforced airframe; cargo door for freight duties; increased fuel stores for enhanced operating eanges.
F28.Mk 3000C - Added cargo door.
F28.Mk 4000 (F28-4000) - Model of 1976 based on the Mk 2000 form; lengthened wingspan; 85-person seating; extra exits.
F28.Mk 5000 (F28-5000) - Proposed short-runway variant; based in the Mk 3000 production mark with shortened fuselage and lengthened wingspan; RR RB.183 Mk.555-15H engines.
F.28 Mk 6000 (F28-6000) - Proposed lengthened fuselage form of 1973; increased wingspan; two examples constructed.
F.28 Mk 6600 (F28-6600) - Proposed variant.
Fairchild 228 - Proposed airliner to be built by American-based Fairchild-Hiller in the United States; 2 x RR RB.203 engines; 50-person seating.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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