IATA F50ICAO F50

Fokker 50

Fokker

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Dutch turboprop successor to the classic Fokker 27.

First flight

1985

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

46–58 passengers

Range

2,085 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 successor to the highly successful Fokker F27 Friendship. It first flew in 1985 and entered airline service in 1987, featuring updated Pratt & Whitney Canada PW125B engines, a redesigned interior, and improved avionics compared to its predecessor. The aircraft was designed to carry between 46 and 58 passengers on short to medium regional routes, offering improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise levels over the F27. Its high-wing configuration and robust undercarriage made it suitable for operations from smaller regional airports with less-developed infrastructure. Fokker ceased production following the company's bankruptcy in 1996, with approximately 213 Fokker 50s built in total. Despite its relatively short production run, the type remains in service with several regional and cargo operators around the world, valued for its reliability and operating economics on thinner routes.

Notable operators

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

Notable facts

›Approximately 213 aircraft were built before Fokker's bankruptcy in 1996.
›The Fokker 50 used six-bladed propellers, significantly reducing cabin noise compared to the F27.
›A utility/freighter variant called the Fokker 50 Utility was also offered.
›Despite production ending nearly 30 years ago, many aircraft remain airworthy in regional and cargo roles.
›The type shares a high-wing design with its F27 predecessor, aiding ground loading operations.