Fokker and Fairchild-Hiller: A Strategic Partnership

 Fokker and Fairchild-Hiller were more than just business partners; together, they formed a strategic alliance that lasted from the mid-1950s. It was then that they began producing the Fokker S.11, S.12, and S.14 in the United States, although they gained most of their renown for locally producing the F27. They even went on to develop their own variants, such as the F-27A/F/J and the FH-227. It was no surprise, then, when they showed interest in the F28 project.

After a promising market study and tough negotiations with Fokker, Fairchild reached an agreement to locally produce their own version of the F28, named the FH-228. While it would have been a Fokker F28 with some modifications, the project was eventually cancelled for several reasons. Among them was a change in the engine type, which caused problems during testing and certification, casting doubt on the project’s viability. Faced with the risk of long delays and the possibility of redesigning the aircraft entirely, the decision was made to suspend production, with three aircraft already partially assembled in the United States, thus avoiding further costs.

 

 

Above, advertisement from 1969.

 

A Project That Was Never Forgotten

Despite the cancellation of the FH-228, the sales projections remained more than encouraging. Between 260 and 460 units were expected to be sold in the US market alone, with between 600 and 800 globally. For this reason, Fairchild did not completely abandon the idea of the F28. The company became the official representative of Fokker for the marketing of the F28 in North America. In October 1968, Fairchild Hiller ordered 10 Fokker F-28s. They were delivered in 1970. They imported the aircrafs for display and sale in the United States.

Of these ten, two were configured for passengers, one with the option of a central cargo door for luggage, and a third was used as a VIP demonstrator, with its interior modified by Pacific Airmotive Inc. in the United States. The three demonstrators stood out with striking red and black stripes and Fairchild-Hiller branding in small lettering.

These aircraft were also leased for charter and private flights, including a famous client: Elvis Presley, who flew aboard N281FH on two occasions, in 1970 and 1971. Another of the demonstrators, N280FH, was showcased, for example, at the New Orleans and Las Vegas air shows in June 1972.

 

 

 

The F28 Mk1000 "C": A Milestone That Never Materialised

Fairchild continued to promote a variant of the F28, the Mk1000 "C", equipped with a larger side cargo door. To illustrate this new version, they distributed an artwork showing N281FH with the door installed. However, this modification was never implemented on this aircraft. The Mk1000C eventually came to life a few years later, but under Fokker’s direction in the Netherlands, who, interestingly, used the same images, but without the "Fairchild-Hiller" titles.

In 1973, N281FH, the VIP demonstrator, was sold to Temple Eastex Inc. and was later modified internally in the following years. Two other aircraft, N285FH and N286FH, were sold to Transair Canada. The remaining seven units were sent back to Fokker. Of these, N280FH continued to operate as a demonstrator until the end of 1976, when it was displayed at the Farnborough International Air Show with its red livery, now carrying Fokker titles.

 

 The Fairchild Fokker F-28 N281FH became a comic book star. Artist Marshall Rogers drew the Fellowship that appeared in Detective Comics #475 (Feb 1978) in the first part of the legendary story "The Laughing Fish".

Fokker's Resurgence in America

Despite the cancellation of the original project, Fokker managed to redeem itself in the US market, selling 48 units of the F28. Among the buyers were Altair, which purchased six Mk.4000s, Empire Airlines with nine Mk.4000s, and Piedmont Airlines, which acquired ten new Mk.4000s and twenty second-hand Mk.1000s refurbished by Fokker. Pilgrim Airlines purchased a single Mk.3000, becoming the only operator of this variant in the United States, while Mid Pacific Airlines in Hawaii bought two Mk.4000s for their operations.

 

 Back in Holland, the F-28s had a new life; three of them were modified to the Mk.1000C version with a cargo door.

 We would like to thank Dietrich Eggert and Frank Ellemers, who generously contributed images.

Aircraft Details:

 
N280FH – cn.11048. Returned to Fokker. Used as a demonstrator. After passing through several operators, it ended up with the Argentine Air Force.
N281FH – cn.11016. Sold to Temple Eastex Inc.
N282FH – cn.11018. Returned to Fokker, converted to Mk.1000C. Sold to the Argentine Air Force.
N283FH – cn.11020. Returned to Fokker, converted to Mk.1000C. Sold to the Argentine Air Force.
N284FH – cn.11024. Returned to Fokker, converted to Mk.1000C. Sold to the Argentine Air Force.
N285FH – cn.11033. Sold to Transair Canada.
N286FH – cn.11038. Sold to Transair Canada.
N287FH – cn.11043. Returned to Fokker. Sold to Garuda Indonesian Airways.
N288FH – cn.11044. Returned to Fokker. Sold to Garuda Indonesian Airways.
N289FH – cn.11047. Returned to Fokker. Sold to Australian Dept of Civil Aviation.

 

 Three aircraft ordered by Fairchild-Hiller were never taken; they were cn.11040, 11049 and 11991.

Never delivered #23

 

The Fokker F-28 Mk.1003 PH-MOL (cn.11003) was the first production model and, from the moment of its rollout, it never stopped flying; it carried out demonstration tours, test flights, and attended air shows.

In September 1970, it was at the Farnborough Air Show, where it was spotted between September 10th and 13th, 1970. That same year, it also completed a series of flights to be showcased across Europe.

On October 19th, 1970, the Fokker F-28 made its first landing in Salzburg, Austria. The flight was operated by the PH-MOL and was almost certainly a promotional flight.

What would have happened if Austrian Airlines had purchased the Fokker F-28 Fellowship?.

Flying with Saudi Elegance

    

 In the early 1980s, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) embarked on a strategic move that would mark a turning point for its fleet: the introduction of two Fokker F‑28 Fellowship jets. Compact yet highly versatile, these aircraft combined modernity, efficiency, and international reach. Far more than mere airplanes, the F‑28s became the key that enabled Saudia to expand its operations into Europe while strengthening domestic routes—all without purchasing the aircraft outright—thanks to a wet lease agreement with the Danish carrier Cimber Air.

    Under this arrangement, the aircraft came complete with their own maintenance, crew, and insurance, yet operated in Saudia’s livery. This provided the airline with the flexibility to grow its network without tying up its own resources.

    Saudia was no stranger to leasing. Back in the mid‑1970s, a Nord 262 bearing the registration OY‑BDD had temporarily flown in Saudia colours before returning to its Danish owner. However, the arrival of the F‑28 represented a significant step forward. The two jets, OY‑BRM (msn.11143) and OY‑BRN (msn. 11151),  donned the airline’s full colour scheme and were deployed between 1980 and 1986 on short- and medium‑haul routes, both within Saudi Arabia and to nearby international destinations. Their compact size and operational efficiency made them ideal for replacing older models and increasing the frequency of domestic flights, foreshadowing Saudia’s later adoption of more modern narrow‑body aircraft.

    During this period, Saudia also established the Special Flight Services (SFS) division, tasked with operating special flights for the Royal Family and the Government. Through this unit, the F‑28s were able to serve a variety of European destinations on official or specialised missions, while smaller aircraft, such as the Cessna Citation, handled less demanding or highly specific tasks.

    At the conclusion of the lease, both F‑28s were returned to their rightful owner, who subsequently marketed them commercially. The experience left a clear lesson: strategic leasing allowed Saudia to modernise its fleet and extend its international reach without straining its own resources, combining efficiency, flexibility, and the capacity to operate both commercial and specialised services.

 

   * msn. 11143 OY-BRM  li 07Jul1980 - 16Dec1986.

   * msn. 11151 OY-BRN   li 28Jun1980 - 16Dec1986.