Fairchild Hiller FH-227
| F-27 / FH-227 |
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| A Fairchild Hiller FH-227B of VARIG at Congonhas Airport Sao Paulo in 1972 |
| Role |
Airliner |
| Manufacturer |
Fairchild Hiller |
| First flight |
November 24, 1955 |
| Introduction |
1958 |
| Status |
Most retired |
| Number built |
128 (F-27)
78 (FH-227) |
| Developed from |
Fokker F27 |
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.
Design and development
Probably the closest to being a true replacement for the fabled Douglas DC-3, 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-longer (0.91 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.
Production
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).
Notable accidents
- On 14 March 1970 a Paraense Fairchild Hiller FH-227B registration PP-BUF flying from Recife to Belém-Val de Cães, while on final approach to land at Belém, crashed into Guajará Bay. Of the 40 passengers and crew, 2 survived.[1]
- On July 23, 1973, Ozark Air Lines Flight 809 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. 38 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 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 Airport the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames on impact. All 42 passengers and four crew on board died.[3]
- On 4 March 1988, a Touraine Air Transport FH-227B operating a scheduled service from Nancy to Paris Orly crashed near 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. [4]
- On 25 January 1993, a TABA Fairchild Hiller FH-227 registration PT-LCS operating a cargo flight from Belém-Val de Cães to Altamira crashed into the jungle near Altamira during night-time approach procedures. The crew of 3 died.[6]
- On 28 November 1995, a TABA Fairchild Hiller FH-227 registration PP-BUJ operating a cargo flight from Belém-Val de Cães to Santarém crashed on its second attempt to approach Santarém. The crew of 2 and 1 of the 2 occupants died.[7]
Specifications (FH-227E)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70[8]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two (pilot & co-pilot)
- Capacity: 52 seats at 79 cm (31 in) pitch, or a maximum of 56
- Payload: 11,200 lb (5,080 kg)
- Length: 83 ft 8 in (25.50 m)
- Wingspan: 95 ft 2 in (29.00 m)
- Height: 27 ft 7 in (8.41 m)
- Wing area: 754 ft² (70.0 m²)
- Empty weight: 22,923 lb (10,398 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 43,500 lb (19,730 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 532-7L turboprops, 2,300 ehp (1,715 kW) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 288 knots (331 mph, 532 km/h)
- Maximum speed: 256 kts (294 mph, 473 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 235 knots (270 mph, 435 km/h)
- Stall speed: 75.9 knots (87.3 mph, 140.5 km/h)
- Range: 570 nm with maximum payload, 1,439 nm with max fuel (656 mi/1,655 mi, 1,055 km/2,660 km)
- Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,540 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,560 ft/min (7.9 m/s)
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References
- Taylor, John W.R.(ed.) Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1969.
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Manufacturer
designations |
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| By role |
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| Fairchild (Canada) |
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| Fairchild-Dornier |
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| Fairchild Hiller |
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| Fairchild Republic |
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| Fairchild Swearingen |
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| American Helicopter |
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See also:
Ranger/Fairchild aeroengines
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