JACK McKILLOP COLLECTION
No. 5382. Fokker F.27-100 Friendship (EI-AKA c/n 10105) Aer Lingus "St. Fionntan"
Photograph from Aer Lingus

Fokker F.27-100 Friendship

05/31/2006. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This aircraft made its first flight on March 23, 1958 with the Dutch registration PH-FAA. It was delivered to Aer Lingus Teoranta (Air Fleet Ltd.) on November 19, 1958, registered EI-AKA and assigned the fleet name "St. Fionntan" (Fintan). Aer Lingus was the first airline in the world to order F.27s. One of the reasons it was purchased was that it used the same engines as the Vickers V.707 Viscounts then in service thus easing the supply problems. Because of its small size, the F.27s were used on short UK routes.

Aer Lingus sold this aircraft to Fokker in July 1966 and it was registered PH-FSF. On July 19, 1966, Fokker sold the aircraft to the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) and it was registered as ZK-NAH. This company was the primary operator of domestic air services between major cities and provincial cities and towns in New Zealand. NAC purchased several F.27s to replace the DC-3s then in service. In April 1978, NAC merged with Air New Zealand forming the first New Zealand carrier providing both domestic and international service.

In the early 1980s, Air New Zealand began purchasing Boeing 737s and this aircraft was placed in storage in September 1981 and sold to Australian Aircraft Sales in November 1983 and registered VH-NLS. It was placed in storage at Tullamarine, Victoria, Australia, until sold to Charter Cruise Air Ltd. on December 27, 1985. In November 1994, the company was renamed Aircruising Australia Ltd. This company provides special interest tour programs and aircruises within and from Australia. VH-NLS was leased to Aircruising New Zealand in November-December 1998.

In November 2004 this aircraft was purchased by the Fokker Friendship Association in the Netherlands and flown to the Lelystad Airport near the city of Lelystad in December 2004. After a major overhaul (December 2004-August 2005), it is was named "Anthony H.G. Fokker" and registered PH-FHF in the Netherlands. Painted in the livery of the former Netherlands Airlines (NLM), as of April 2006 this aircraft is based at Lelystad Airport and is being operated by the F27 Friendship (Flight) Association for sightseeing."


Created May 31, 2006