IATA F50ICAO F50

Fokker 50

Fokker

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Turboprop successor to the classic Fokker F27 Friendship.

First flight

1985

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

46–58 passengers

Range

1,760 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW125B turboprops

Status

In service

The Fokker 50 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner developed by the Dutch manufacturer Fokker as a modernized replacement for the highly successful Fokker F27 Friendship. It features a redesigned fuselage with improved aerodynamics, six-blade propellers, and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW125B engines, offering greater fuel efficiency and passenger comfort than its predecessor. Entering service in 1987, the Fokker 50 was aimed at short- to medium-haul regional routes and could carry up to 58 passengers in a standard configuration. It incorporated modern avionics and a glass cockpit, distinguishing it significantly from the older F27 despite sharing a similar overall layout. Production ended in 1997 following Fokker's bankruptcy in 1996, with approximately 213 aircraft built. The type remains in service with a number of regional and charter carriers worldwide, valued for its reliability and operating economics on thinner routes.

Notable operators

Notable operators have included KLM Cityhopper, Ansett Australia, Air Lingus, and various regional carriers across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Notable facts

›The Fokker 50 made its first flight on 28 December 1985.
›It is a direct development of the Fokker F27 Friendship, sharing a similar fuselage cross-section.
›Six-blade propellers reduce cabin noise compared to earlier four-blade designs.
›Fokker's bankruptcy in 1996 ended production after approximately 213 aircraft were delivered.
›The aircraft features a modern glass cockpit in contrast to its analog-instrumented predecessor.