The World’s Oldest Fokker F-28 Continues to Make Headlines in Argentina

 

At Bahía Blanca Airport, May 5, 2026.

After nearly a month of inactivity, an engine test was conducted on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Subsequently, several technical issues were resolved to bring the Fokker F-28 Mk.1000C TC-53 back into service.

On April 30, it completed a flight route from El Palomar Air Base – Paraná – El Palomar. That same day, it performed a series of practice maneuvers overflying the city of Junín, in the Province of Buenos Aires.

The following day, May 1, the aircraft participated in an air parade at Morón Airport to commemorate the 44th Anniversary of the Argentine Air Force's "Baptism of Fire." The TC-53 paraded alongside the Lockheed Hercules TC-66 (C-130H) and TC-69 (KC-130H).

And it continues to surprise us: today, May 5, 2026, the Fellowship TC-53 completed another flight for LADE (Líneas Aéreas del Estado), covering the route Aeroparque – Mar del Plata – Bahía Blanca – Comodoro Rivadavia (Flight 5U504) and returning via the same path. This currently stands as the only Fokker F-28 passenger service in the entire world!

How much longer does the noble Fokker F-28 have left?

Acknowledgments: Pablo Santa Coloma & Miguel Angel Graff.

Never delivered #26

 

 

The extensive tour of the Fokker F-28 Mk.4000, carried out during February and March 1978, covered 12 countries across the American continent and, naturally, included the United States. One of the stops was Washington, where it was evaluated by Allegheny Airlines.

As is well known, Allegheny was renamed US Air (later US Airways) in 1979, and years later, after absorbing Piedmont, it came to operate one of the largest Fokker F-28 fleets in the world.

However, what would have happened if Allegheny had purchased the Fokker F-28 Mk.4000 back in 1978? How would the "Fellowship" have looked in that airline's livery?

F-28 Went on Sale

   A clipping from the Financial Times on 31Jan1995 announced the sale of a Fokker F-28 aircraft, highlighting how traditional channels such as newspaper adverts remained key in commercial operations, even as communication technology was rapidly advancing during the 1990s.
    The plane, which had been reported stored at Ciampino Airport in Nov1994, had been out of service for some time. It had been retired by Unifly Express, an airline that once operated four F-28s, originally acquired following the absorption of assets from the company Alinord.
Unifly Express’s financial situation deteriorated quickly, ultimately leading to the cessation of its operations. While leased aircraft were returned to their owners, those forming part of the airline’s own fleet had to be sold off. Among them was the F-28 registered I-TIAP -msn. 11009-, offered for sale through various channels, including international newspaper adverts.
    The advert appears to have been successful, as the aircraft eventually found a new home in the fleet of Peruvian airline Aerocontinente, through the intervention of an American investor.