Fokker 100

When Fokker announced a successor to the F27 in November 1983, they also launched a similar follow-on to the Fellowship jet airliner. Derived from the proven F28 Mk 4000 airframe, the new aircraft was designated the Fokker 100 roughly reflecting the number of passenger seats offered. Re-engined with new-technology fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Tay turbofans and with a longer fuselage and redesigned and extended wings, other features include modernised systems incorporating a 'glass cockpit' and a revised cabin interior. Production is shared with Deutsche Airbus, Shorts, Grumman, Rolls-Royce and Dowty Rotol, with assembly and flight testing carried out by Fokker at Schiphol. IPTN of Indonesia also supply components.

The F100 flight test programme involved two prototypes, the first making its maiden flight on 30 November 1986 followed by the second on 25 February 1987. Certification of the Tay 620-15 powered version was achieved in November 1987 and first customer delivery was made to Swissair in February 1988. The uprated Tay 650 version, ordered by US Air was certificated in July 1989 and delivered to the airline the same month. By mid-1991 Fokker had received orders for 232 F100s and had delivered 70. Options available on Tay 650 aircraft from 1993 include a higher gross weight of 45810kg and an integral wing centre-section fuel tank giving improvements in range between 160 and 450km. Another option available from 1994 will be a quick-change version equipped with a cargo door 3.4 by 1.9m installed on the port side of the fuselage ahead of the wing, together with a specially designed cabin interior. Conversion time (by three men) is claimed to be 20 minutes, enabling 88 passengers to be carried by day and an 11,500kg payload by night over 2800 km.

lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 Dave McLean

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