Fokker F-27 Friendship
The introduction of the Fokker F.27 Friendship marked a
quantum leap forward in speed, sophistication and passenger
comfort. Gone were the incessant bumps down at 10,000ft,
the Friendship being pressurised and cruising above most of
the weather with the passengers in airconditioned comfort.
MMA's pilots, for the first time, savoured the simple operation
of the turbo-prop with its smoothness and quietness. But along
with the new aircraft came greater speed (240 knots cruise,
rather than the 140 knots of the DC-3) and the increased sophistication of more complex aircraft systems
and navigation aids. After years flying the lumbering DC-3, the Friendship
heralded the "Big Time" for the pilots.
The passengers, for the first time, enjoyed a hot meal service, and were
able to easily fly from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, to Perth in one day.
In fact, the Friendship was so much more appealing than the DC-3 that MMA
called it "The Jetstream Service".
The author flew 4,100 hours in the Friendship, enjoying every minute of it. Read all about it in "I Flew For
MMA".
Specifications
In MMA Service:
31st December 1959 to April 1972 (6 aircraft peak)
Wingspan:
95ft 1 3/4in, 29m
Length:
82ft 2 1/2in, 25.06m
Height:
28ft 7 1/4in, 8.71m
Cruising Speed:
240knots, 276mph, 444kmph
Max takeoff weight:
42,000lb, 19tonnes
Max Altitude:
25,000ft
Engines:
2 Rolls Royce Dart turboprops producing 1970 shaft HP, and 495lb of thrust
Seating Capacity:
2 pilots, 2 Hostesses, 36 passengers
I FLEW FOR MMA
Fokker F-27 Friendship
Specifications
In MMA Service:
31st December 1959 to
April 1972 (6 aircraft peak)
Wingspan:
95ft 1 3/4in, 29m
Length:
82ft 2 1/2in, 25.06m
Height:
28ft 7 1/4in, 8.71m
Cruising Speed:
240knots, 276mph, 444kmph
Max takeoff weight:
42,000lb, 19tonnes
Max Altitude:
25,000ft
Engines:
2 Rolls Royce Dart
turboprops producing
1970 shaft HP,
and 495lb of thrust
Seating Capacity:
2 pilots, 2 Hostesses,
36 passengers
The introduction of the Fokker F.27 Friendship
marked a quantum
leap forward in
speed, sophistication
and passenger
comfort. Gone were
the incessant bumps
down at 10,000ft,
the Friendship being pressurised and cruising
above most of the weather with the
passengers in airconditioned comfort.
MMA's pilots, for the first time, savoured the
simple operation of the turbo-prop with its
smoothness and quietness. But along with the
new aircraft came greater speed (240 knots
cruise, rather than
the 140 knots of the
DC-3) and the
increased
sophistication of
more complex
aircraft systems and navigation aids. After
years flying the lumbering DC-3, the
Friendship heralded the "Big Time" for the
pilots.
The passengers, for the first time, enjoyed a
hot meal service, and were able to easily fly
from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, to
Perth in one day. In fact, the Friendship was
so much more appealing than the DC-3 that
MMA called it "The Jetstream Service".
The author flew 4,100 hours in the
Friendship, enjoying every minute of it. Read
all about it in "I Flew For MMA".
