FH-227

The Fairchild FH‑227 is a stretched, turboprop derivative of the Dutch Fokker F27 Friendship that entered service in the early 1960s. Fairchild acquired a license to build the F27 in the United States and, to meet American airline requirements for greater payload, lengthened the fuselage by 2.15 m (7 ft) and increased the maximum take‑off weight. Powered by two Rolls‑Royce Dart Mk 506 turboprops, the FH‑227 could cruise at 480 km/h (260 knots) and offered a range of roughly 2 200 km with a typical seating capacity of 48 to 56 passengers. First delivered to the U.S. carrier Trans World Airlines in 1964, the type quickly found operators throughout North America, South America and the Caribbean, where its robust landing gear and excellent short‑field performance proved valuable on rugged regional routes. The aircraft also served in military and humanitarian roles, notably with the United States Air Force as the C‑119G and with the United Nations during disaster‑relief missions. Although production ceased in 1972 after 117 units, the FH‑227 demonstrated the viability of licensed production and helped cement turboprop regional airliners as a reliable bridge between piston‑engine transports and emerging jet services.

Fairchild

Classification

Design & Classification