Country of origin:

The Netherlands

Description:

Short to medium range commercial airliner

Power Plant:

Two 15,000 lbst Rolls Royce RB183-03 Tay Mk 650 turbofans

Specifications:

History:

The prototype of the Fokker 100 PK-MKH flew for the first time on 30 November 1987 at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, being designed “as a simple, low-cost, no-nonsense, affordable airliner”. The aircraft was built in collaboration with MBB in Germany and Shorts in the United Kingdom, the latter constructing the wings. At the time of the first flight the manufacturer held orders for 88 aircraft and options on a further 91.

The Fokker 100 was basically a stretched and re-engined Fokker F-28 Fellowship, with extensively re-designed wings claimed to be 30 per cent more efficient aerodynamically than those of its predecessor. Most early purchasers were carriers which essentially needed a Douglas DC-9 replacement. Compared to the F-28, the Fokker 100 had a fuselage stretch of 5.74 m (18 ft 10in), the wing extended by 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in), and the tailplane by extended 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in). Originally the Rolls Royce Tay 620 of 13,850 lbst was to be fitted but, because of the demands of the hot and high airfields in western American States used by US Air, the launch customer, the Tay 650 was developed, this providing 15,000 lbst.

As with most modern airliners, extensive use was made of composites to save weight over conventional construction. Carbon fibre was used for the main flap elements, ailerons, rudder and parts of the engine cowling, and some 417 kg (920 lb) weight was saved. A crew of two was carried on the flight deck, with two cabin attendants, and standard seating for 107 passengers in an all-economy class, although configurations seating up to 119 tourist class passengers were available.

In 1986 Tamworth-based East West Airlines (EWA) indicated it intended to obtain two Boeing 737-200s but was unable to obtain suitable aircraft and in May announced it was obtaining three Fokker 100s, thus keeping an all Fokker fleet.

In the event East West Airlines was taken over by the Ansett Group and BAe 146s were obtained. In late 1991 a new operator, Northern Australian Airlines, announced it was about to commence operations with three Fokker 100s, these being fitted with 95 seats, 16 business class and 79 economy, the aircraft to be obtained direct from the manufacturer, and it proposed to introduce a further aircraft in mid 1992, services to be operated in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. However, these Fokker 100s were not imported.

In the mid 1990s Fokker had financial problems and the production of all Fokker aircraft ceased. In 1998 Brisbane-based Flight West Airlines obtained two Fokker 100s for services on the Sydney – Norfolk Island, Brisbane – Norfolk Island, and Brisbane – Papua New Guinea routes, the first commencing operations in November 1998. The first of these two aircraft VH-FWI (c/n 11318) arrived in Australia on 15 February 1999 and the second (c/n 11316) became VH-FWH. This latter aircraft was painted in Air Niugini colours and served with that airline for a period until replaced by an Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 VH-FKE (c/n 11358 – ex N889US, PK-EZM) which became P2-ANA on lease.. A third Fokker 100 (c/n 11267) was also delivered to Flight West in 1999. This aircraft (ex EP-IDC) of Iran Air was damaged landing at Isfahan, Iran on 5 January 1998. Offered for sale, it was obtained for spare parts and brought to Australia as cargo in the hold of an Antonov An-124.

In 2002 a new Australian operator took over a number of the Fokker 100s in Australia, this being Alliance Airlines, the aircraft EP-IDC being also being obtained for ground instruction training. In November 2002 Alliance took delivery of VH-FNY (c/n 11484 – ex N108ML), the company, amongst other routes, flying Brisbane to Norfolk Island.

Further Fokker 100s have been imported by Alliance, including: VH-FKA (c/n 11345 – ex N885US, PH-EZE); VH-FKC (c/n 11349 – ex N887US, PH-EZB); VH-FKD (c/n 11359 – ex N888AU, PH-EZL), and VH-FKE (c/n 11359 – ex N889US, PH-EZM), which was de-registered on 10 September 2011, stripped and donated to AirServices Australia for fire training.

Further Fokker 100 aircraft became VH-FKF (c/n 11365 – ex N890US, PH-EZC); VH-FKG (c/n 11366 – ex N891US, PH-EZP); and VH-FKJ² (x/n 11372 – ex N892US, E-1152, PH-EZE). In 2004 Alliance commenced a weekly mining charter from Brisbane to Telfer, WA via Mt Isa, QLD and return. By late 2009 Alliance had 11 Fokker 100s in service, with further aircraft being obtained, including VH-XWR (c/n 11306), VH-XWS (c/n 11314) and VH-XWT (c/n 11338).

In 2005 Rekkoff Restart was considering putting the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 regional jet back into production but using a new more modern engine, this company having purchased tooling and rights to continue production of the aircraft after the demise of Fokker. The Fokker 70 was a variant built to seat 79 passengers and was 4.6 m (15 ft) shorter, entering service seven years after the Fokker 100. A VIP variant was developed in 2004, having auxiliary fuel tanks to increase range to 5,900 km (3,666 miles). A total of 324 examples of the series was built, comprising 47 Model 70s and 277 Model 100s.

In mid 2006 Air New Guinea obtained an example from The Netherlands, this becoming P2-ANC (ex PH-MXW) and this aircraft was later named ‘Rabaul’. Two more were delivered in 2007, becoming P2-ANE and P2-ANF, followed by P2-AND and P2-ANQ

Skywest Airlines of Western Australia has also operated the type and aircraft have included: VH-FNJ³ (c/n 11489 – ex G-BVJA, PK-EZE), this aircraft in April 2013 joining the fleet of Virgin Airlines; VH-FNR (c/n 11488 – ex G-BVJB, PH-EZD), and VH-FNY (c/n 11484 – ex N108ML, PH-EZA).

The type has met the requirements of Australian operators and as examples of the series have been replaced overseas by newer types, Fokkers 100s have been imported to Australia, including VH-FNN (c/n 11326) in late 2007.

In early 2011 Qantas announced it was acquiring new aircraft for its domestic subsidiaries Jetstar and Network Aviation, the aircraft to be delivered through to the end of the 2012-2013 fiscal year, this purchase including 10 Fokker 100s for Network Aviation. In November 2014 a Fokker 100 (c/n 11303) arrived for operation by Virgin Australia subsidiary, Regional Airlines.

In November 2015 Alliance Airlines announced it was acquiring the entire surviving fleet of 15 Fokker 100s and six Fokker 70s of Austrian Airlines. Under the arrangement this allowed Alliance to diversify into operations in Europe, Austrian Airlines, which was a subsidiary of Lufthansa, becoming a shareholder in Alliance. Ownership of the 21 aircraft would be with Alliance subsidiary, Alliance Aviation Services, Slovakia, and would become available for wet or dry leasing or sale. Some would be broken up by Austrian Technik Bratislava, which company performed heavy maintenance on the Alliance fleet. The company’s heavy maintenance facility at Brisbane was subsequently closed down. At the time of the announcement Alliance was operating 15 Fokker 100s, eight Fokker 70s and five Fokker 50s and expected to continue the three types in service up to 2025.

By early 2017 50 examples of the Fokker 100 appeared on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register.