The Fokker Friendship at Liverpool Airport

[viscount]

The Fokker F-27 and Fairchild FH-227

This “Type Review” was commenced in 2011, and recently discovered while ‘cleaning up’ my MS Word stored document file. One of the last to be started this review of all F-27 and FH-227 aircraft visiting Liverpool, research has only completed the first stage – the listing all the aircraft that visited each year. At that stage it stalled as I moved onto other themes, with very little annual detail added. As I don’t see myself returning to this type in the short term, I thought that there would be no harm in posting ‘as is’, if only to get others to ‘hang’ a few photos of Friendships onto this thread. There is much to choose from with over 50 years of visits by a wide variety of aircraft and airlines, passenger and freight.


16th March 1977 inbound day-return charter with St.Etennie fans

Friendship Operations at Liverpool Airport
Spanning over 50 years: 1958 - 2011

The Friendship is one of a small elite of passenger carrying aircraft types that have visited Liverpool Airport for a period of over 50 years, joining the Dakota, Dove, Dragon Rapide and Hercules. Airlines that have used the type on Liverpool scheduled services, Aer Lingus, British Midland, Manx Airlines and Euroceltic, while others such as Air UK, Skyways Cargo and Channel Express have flown on the night mail ‘spokes from Speke’, then others on freight charters for TNT and the motor companies. This makes for a particularly long history.

My own first flight was as a 10 year-old, on an Aer Lingus Friendship EI-AKG on 16th August 1961 from Speke to Dublin into a stormy headwind, with more vertical movement than horizontal! The Friendship became my personal favourite aircraft type to fly in as passenger, in no small part due to the huge passenger windows without wings and engines blocking the view out.


The late Fifties

1958 First visit by type 5.12.58 by EI-AKB on demonstration flights
1959 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG = 7 different aircraft

The Sixties Decade

1960 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG = 7 different aircraft
1961 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG, LN-SUG = 8 aircraft
1962 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG, LN-SUG, LN-SUO, LN-SUW = 10 aircraft
1963 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG, LN-SUA, LN-SUG, LN-SUW = 10 aircraft
1964 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG, LN-SUA, LN-SUE, LN-SUG, LN-SUW = 11 different aircraft
1965 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG, LN-SUA, LN-SUE, PH-SAB, PH-SAD = 11 different aircraft
1966 EI-AKA, EI-AKB, EI-AKC, EI-AKD, EI-AKE, EI-AKF, EI-AKG, LN-SUA, PH-LIP, PH-SAD, PH-SAN, PH-SAP = 12 different aircraft
1967 LN-SUG, LN-SUL, N172C, PH-SAR = 4 different aircraft
1968 no visits
1969 HB-AAU = just one aircraft

The Seventies Decade

1970 F-BNPF, OY-APC, OY-STO = 3 different aircraft
1971 OY-APC, OY-APD = 2 aircraft
1972 LN-SUL, OO-SBP, OY-APA, OY-APD = 4 aircraft
1973 D-BEKU, G-BAKL = 2 aircraft
1974 D-BEK-, F-BNPD, F-BNPJ, OY-APF = 4 aircraft
1975 D-ABKI, G-BAUR = 2 aircraft
1976 PH-KFC, PH-KFE = 2 aircraft
1977 F-BUFU = just the one aircraft
1978 G-BAKL, G-BAUR, PH-KFH = 3 aircraft
1979 D-BAKI, G-BDDH, G-BDVS, G-BDVT, G-SKYA, G-SKYB = 6 different aircraft

The Eighties Decade

1980 D-BAKI, D-BOOM, G-BAUR, G-BCDN, G-BCDO, G-BDVS, G-BHMY, G-SKYA, G-SKYB = 9 different aircraft
1981 D-BAKA, D-BOOM, G-BAKL, G-BCDN, G-BDVT, G-BHMW, G-BLGW, G-BMAS, PH-KFH, PH-SAD = 10 different aircraft
1982 D-BOOM, F-GCLP, G-BAKL, G-BAUR, G-BDDH, G-BLGW, G-BMAE, G-BMAS, G-IOMA, G-OMAN, LN-SUF, LN-SUL, N1036S, PH-KFH, PH-KFL = 14 different aircraft, as PH-KFH later visited as G-BMAE. A new annual record.
1983 G-BAUR, G-BDDH, G-BDVS, G-BDVT, G-BHMW, G-BLGW, G-BMAE, G-BMAP, G-BMAS, G-BMAW, G-IOMA, G-OMAN, LN-SUE, LN-SUF, LN-SUL, S9-TAB = 16 different aircraft, a new annual record.
1984 G-BAUR, G-BCDO, G-BDDH, G-BHMW, G-BHMX, G-BLGW, G-BMAE, G-BMAP, G-BMAU, G-BMAW, G-IOMA, G-OMAN, OO-DTD, PH-KFC = 14 different aircraft
1985 G-BDDH, G-BHMX, G-BHMZ, G-BLGW, G-BMAE, G-BMAP, G-BMAU, G-BMAW, G-IOMA, OO-DTD, OO-DTE, PH-KFE = 12 different aircraft
1986 G-BCDN, G-BCDO, G-BDVS, G-BHMX, G-BHMZ, G-BLML, G-BMAE, G-BMAP, G-BMAU, G-BMAW, G-IOMA, G-STAN, C-3, C-4, C-12 of R.Neth.A.F. = 15 different aircraft
1987 G-BAKL, G-BCDO, G-BDVS, G-BMAE, G-BMAP, LN-BSD, PH-SFB = 7 different aircraft
1988 D-AELB, D-BAKI, G-BAKL, G-BDVS, G-BHMW, G-BMAP, G-BMAW = 7 different aircraft
1989 LN-AKA, SE-KGC = 2 different aircraft

The Nineties Decade

1990 EC-EUU, F-GDXT, G-FEAF, G-JEAA, G-JEAB, OO-SVM, OY-ARZ, SE-KGB = 8 different aircraft
1991 D-AELC, D-AELD, D-AELE, G-BLGW, G-FEAE, PH-FKT = 6 different aircraft
1992 D-AELC, D-AELD, D-AELE, OY-SRC, OY-SRR, PH-FEY, PH-FFF, PH-FGE, C-12 of R.Neth.A.F. = 9 different aircraft
1993 D-AELC, D-AELD, D-AELE, D-BAKA, OY-SRR, OY-SRZ, PH-FEY, PH-FFF, PH-FGE =9 different aircraft
1994 D-ADOP, D-AELD, D-AELE, D-ALEF, D-AELG, D-AELH, D-BAKI, D-BAKO, F-GDXT, G-BNIZ, G-JEAE, HB-ISJ, HB-ISO = 13 different aircraft
1995 D-ADEP, D-ADOP, D-AELC, D-AELE, D-AELF, D-AELG, D-AELH, D-AELI, D-AELK, D-AISY, D-BAKA, EI-CLF, F-GDXT, G-BNIZ, G-BVZW, G-CHNL, G-JEAD, G-JEAE, HB-ILO, OY-SRD = 20 - a new annual record.
1996 D-ADEP, D-AELC, D-AELD, D-AELE, D-AISY, D-BAKB, G-BAKD, EI-CLF, F-GDXT, G-BNIZ, G-BVZW, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CHNL, G-JEAH, HB-ITQ, PH-FNW = 17
1997 D-ADEP, D-AELC, D-AELF, D-AELH, D-AELK, D-AISY, EI-CLF, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-BVZW, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CEXD, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-CHNL, G-JEAD, G-JEAF, G-JEAP, OY-CCL = 20 to equal the previous annual record.
1998 D-ACCS, D-ADOP, D-AELC, D-AELD, D-AELE, D-AELF, D-AELG, D-AELH, D-AELJ, D-AELK, D-AELM, D-BAKB, EI-CLF, G-BMXD, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-BVZW, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CEXD, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-CHNL, G-JEAD, G-JEAH, G-JEAI, G-JEAP, HB-ISY, OE-ILW, PH-FNV, PH-JLN = 31 the all-time annual record
1999 D-ADOP, D-ADUP, D-AELE, D-AELI, D-AELJ, D-AISY, G-BMXD, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CEXD, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-CHNL, JEAD, G-JEAE, G-JEAP, OE-ILW, PH-FNW, PH-FOZ = 21 different aircraft

The Noughties Decade

2000 D-ACCS, D-ACCT, D-ADUP, D-AELK, G-BMXD, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CEXD, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-JEAD, G-JEAE, G-JEAP, OK-ABB = 16 different aircraft
2001 D-AAAC, D-ACCS, D-AELH, G-BMXD, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CEXD, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-CEXG, G-ECAH, G-ECAT, G-JEAE, G-JEAF, HB-ITY, OK-ABA, PH-FNV = 19 different aircraft
2002 D-ACCT, D-AELE, D-AELG, D-AELJ, D-AISY, D-BAKB, D-BAKD, G-BMXD, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CEXD, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-CEXG, G-ECAH, G-ECAT, G-JEAD, G-JEAE, HB-ILQ, HB-ISQ, I-SIXA, PH-FNV = 24 different aircraft. Possibly Euroceltic op our last passenger Friendship flights?
2003 D-ADEP, D-AELG, D-AELJ, G-BMXD, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-CEXA, G-CEXB, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-CEXG, G-JEAD, G-JEAE, HB-ITY, HB-IVQ, I-MLVT = 16 different aircraft
2004 D-AELH, D-AELJ, D-AISY, D-BAKB, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-CEXB, G-CEXE, G-CEXF, G-CEXG = 10 aircraft
2005 D-AELH, D-AELJ, D-AELK, D-AISY, EI-SMF, G-BMXD, G-BNIZ, G-BVOB, G-CEXB, G-JEAD, HA-FAD, HA-FAE, HA-FAF = 13 different aircraft
2006 TC-MBA, TC-MBF, TC-MBH = 3 aircraft
2007 D-AELJ, D-BAKB, TC-MBA, TC-MBG = 4 different aircraft
2008 I-MLGT, TC-MBA, TC-MBD, TC-MBH = 4 different aircraft
2009 HA-FAB, HA-FAD, HA-FAH, I-MLGT, I-MLHT, I-MLQT, I-MLRT, I-MLXT = 8 different aircraft

The current decade

2010 D-ADEP = just the one aircraft
2011 D-AELK = just the one, and current candidate for last visit by type. Tuesday 13th September 2011, D-AELK Friendship 600, routed Munster-Cologne in mid evening as WDL211/213 with freight.
2012 none
2013 none
It is now 2023 and it now highly unlikely that we will see a Fokker Friendship at Liverpool Airport again.

[calflier]

Good job there,Viscount,I too was very fond of the F27,and I just looked at my log and I flew the F27,no less than 75 times,mostly BMA and Manx,I have only flown on 6 FK50,s.I suppose it what was being used on LPL services at the time,but a great aircraft for sure.

[davecalveley]

I seem to remember one Grand National day people went off in a F-27 OR F-50 for a low level flight around the lake district it turned out to be very low level as people said they were looking UP at walkers etc.........some very white faces came off that flight back into the terminal!!....year? aircraft involved? were you on it/a survivor?

Dave

[calflier]

Jan 14, 2015 13:45:51 GMT 1 davecalveley said:

I seem to remember one Grand National day people went off in a F-27 OR F-50 for a low level flight around the lake district it turned out to be very low level as people said they were looking UP at walkers etc.........some very white faces came off that flight back into the terminal!!....year? aircraft involved? were you on it/a survivor?

Dave

Think it was an Aer Lingus FK50.I was not on it,but I heard it went quite low in the lake district area,nice.

[viscount]

There have been two enthusiast flights from Liverpool on Fokker aircraft that I can think of. To sort these two out, I'll describe both as seemingly confusion is arising. I organised one on behalf of the MAS, the other organised by FoLA.

27th April 1986 The M.A.S. chartered British Midland's Friendship to mark the very end of regular airline operations through the Art Deco terminal before the overnight move to the south airfield's new building. The flight was to take place mid evening, after the late afternoon London rotation. Charter flight BD8419 was fully booked and operated by Friendship 200 G-BMAE. After a delay due to the inbound flight running late and discussion with the flight crew, we loaded as the last ever passengers to depart from Speke's historic terminal. The North Airfield's runways were closed in 1983, so we taxied across the north airfield to the south airfield runway. We departed from 09, and entered a left turn for a visual approach and fly-by along 26, followed by a delightfully tight 'tear-drop' turn over the river to make a fly-by along 08. Looking out it seemed as if the wings were vertical with the wing-tip fastened to a sand bank. Quite remarkable, great fun. After these few minutes of excitement, the rest was routine as we routed out across the Wirral then in deepening dusk proceeded as far along the coast as Llandudno, before turning back. However what seemed to be a routine approach to 09, swung left to be a further fly-by of 08, with a right-hand circuit to land on 27 in the near dark. I logged the flight at 43 minutes airbourne. We disembarked as the last passengers through the Terminal, where the staff were already loading vans for the big overnight move.

3rd April 1993 FoLA had long cherished the idea of offering their members a flight with Aer Lingus, and an opportunity presented itself with a Fokker 50 operating a day-return charter flight from Dublin for the Grand National Race meeting and most importantly day-stopping at Liverpool. Our charter flight EI4269, operated by EI-FKA departed 09 in the afternoon and routed up the Lancashire coast, with a promise of clear weather over the Lake District, on what at the Airport was a cloudy day threatening rain. Staying low, the cabin staff decided early on in the flight that conditions were far too poor to distribute refreshments and returned to their seats and buckled-in. However, the pilot understanding that he had 'hardened' aviation enthusiasts 'down the back' and having fun 'hand' flying the aircraft VFR decided to go through, rather than over, the Lake District. My passenger log-book describes the flight cryptically as 'low and rough' - an understatement. Dave's comment that we were looking out and up at waving walkers is quite correct, with no exaduration! The pilots could see that we would clear the pass, as passengers all we could see were mountain slopes getting nearer on both sides! Once through the central Lake District pass, a turning climb to leave the Lake District west coast and once clear, we climbed routing towards the Isle of Man, however as it was cloud covered we flew down the east side then towards Anglesey and the North Wales coast back to Liverpool and a landing on 09. My pax log book records 1 hour 22 minutes airbourne.

I personally flew a number of flights in the Friendship as passenger. Five flights on three different Aer Lingus aircraft 1961-63 across the Irish Sea. In 1977 four sectors on four different Flugfelag Islands aircraft around Iceland, including landing on a rolled-gravel runway. Then 1982-86 a couple of flights with British Midland on three different aircraft (including the flight described above), with my final Friendship flight in 1993 with Jersey European Jersey to Guernsey.

[calflier]

It must have been fantastic going around Iceland in an F27,Hopefully they will always have high winged aircraft in Iceland for the great views,thanks again for the research.I seem to remeber being booked on an AirAngla F27 from Liverpool in the early 70,s which the MAS were chartering for a pleasure flight.as it was supposed to be day stopping(FA cup Norwich V Everton I think),but it got cancelled,but there were the two Dak flights earlier on.

[Airbus A346]

PH-KFC Fokker F.27 Friendship NLM, probably taken on the 2nd or 3rd June 1976 while operating an evening charter to Rotterdam.........

PH-KFC by MARTIN CHELL, on Flickr

[jetdragon]

9 April 1983 - G-BDDH

[robaero]

I have just found a couple of scanned sadly poor quality picture of the F50 that I took just after I had got off this brilliant flight.

1-8-9-2008_277 by Rob Stock, on Flickr

EI-FKA Fokker 50 of Aer Lingus Commuter at EGGP. R Stock (C). by Rob Stock, on Flickr

[Beemer]

A selection of mine of the Fokker Friendship on approach or on the ground at LJLA from the noughties.I have earlier ones but taken at MAN and others seen at LPL but no photos in the earlier years.


I-MLGT F27-500 Miniliner 01-01-2009


I-MLHT F27-500 Miniliner 08-10-2009


I-MLXT F27-500 Miniliner 10-03-2009


OO-VLI F.50-050 VLM 27-02-2016


OO-VLJ F.50-050 VLM 21-08-2006


OO-VLL F.50-050 City Jet 14-05-2016


OO-VLM F.50-050 VLM 01-08-2006


OO-VLN F.50.050 City Jet 17-08-2015


OO-VLN F-50-050 City Jet 22-11-2017


OO-VLQ F.50-050 City Jet 21-08-2010


OO-VLR F.50-05 VLM 19-05-2015


OO-VLT F.50-050 VLM 25-05-2007


OO-VLV F.50-050 VLM 11-08-2004


OO-VLZ F.50-050 City Jet 25-01-2014


OO-VLZ F.50-050 VLM 09-04-2005


PH-KXM F.50-050 Denim Airways 09-04-2005


TC-MBH F.27-500RC MNG Cargo Airlines 05-07-2006

Beemer