Veteran and Still in Commercial Service

    On 03Mar2026, the Fokker F-28 Mk.1000C TC-53 (msn.11020) carried out another commercial service for Líneas Aéreas del Estado (LADE) of Argentina. At 7:53 a.m. it departed from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires City bound for Mar del Plata, Bahía Blanca and San Carlos de Bariloche, operating flight 5U504.

    Following our previous report – “Ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of the Fokker F-28 in the Argentine Air Force” – the only Fellowship still in active service worldwide flew on 13Nov2025 to Bogotá (Colombia), with intermediate stops in Salta and Lima (Peru). It returned from the Colombian capital on 20Nov2025, routing via La Vanguardia (Colombia), Lima (Peru) and Salta, finally landing at its home base of El Palomar.

    December 2025 saw TC-53 heavily engaged. On the 3rd, it performed two flights: one test flight and another to Río Cuarto to attend the ceremony marking the reception of the first six F-16 aircraft acquired by the Argentine Air Force.

    Below is a summary of the flights continued by TC-53 during Dec2025:

- 11Dec2025. Passenger service 5U504 (LADE), Aeroparque to final destination Comodoro Rivadavia, with intermediate stops in Mar del Plata and Bahía Blanca.

- 12Dec2025. Aeroparque – Córdoba – El Palomar AFB.

- 17Dec2025. El Palomar AFB – Santa Fe.

- 18Dec2025. Passenger flight 5U502 (LADE). Aeroparque – Mar del Plata – Bahía Blanca – Bariloche.

- 19Dec2025. Mendoza – Aeroparque – El Palomar AFB.

- 23Dec2025. El Palomar AFB – Mendoza – San Luis – El Palomar AFB.

- 29Dec2025. El Palomar AFB – Córdoba – Mendoza – Córdoba – El Palomar AFB.

    Bringing 2025 to a close, on 30 December the F-28 entered its annual inspection at its home station, El Palomar Air Base.

    The Fellowship returned to service on 04Feb2026, carrying out a post-maintenance test flight. February once again proved to be a demanding month:

- 04Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Paraná AFB.

- 05Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Escuela de Avición Militar (Córdoba).

- 07Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Aeroparque – Rosario – Aeroparque – El Palomar AFB. Participation in the ceremony for the presentation of General San Martín’s sabre to the city of San Lorenzo, Santa Fe Province.

- 09Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Córdoba – Neuquén – Esquel. Transport of firefighting brigades to combat wildfires in southern Argentina.

- 10Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Escuela de Avición Militar (Córdoba) – El Palomar AFB.

- 12Feb2026. Passenger flight 5U502 (LADE). Aeroparque – Mar del Plata – Bahía Blanca – Bariloche.

- 13Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Escuela de Avición Militar (Córdoba).

- 19Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Escuela de Avición Militar (Córdoba).

- 24Feb2026. El Palomar AFB – Aeroparque.

- 25Feb2026. Aeroparque – Bariloche.

- 26Feb2026. Aeroparque – Tandil – Aeroparque.

- 27Feb2026. Aeroparque – Paraná – Río Cuarto – Aeroparque.

- 03Mar2026. Passenger flight 5U502 (LADE). Aeroparque – Mar del Plata – Bahía Blanca – Bariloche.

    It should be noted that this record of operations may not reflect the entirety of the flights undertaken during the period, but rather those that have been confirmed.

    Nevertheless, it is truly remarkable to witness how this aircraft continues to extend its operational boundaries and maintain a visible presence both domestically and internationally. Despite its veteran status, TC-53 demonstrates exceptional relevance, standing as a symbol of continuity, versatility and operational commitment.

Agradecimiento: Francisco Jaime

Never delivered #22

 

    In 1978, a Fokker F‑28 Mk.4000 embarked on a promotional tour across the United States. This particular aircraft, construction number 11130, was owned by Linjeflyg. Before its delivery to the Swedish airline, it had served as a demonstration aircraft for Fokker, operating under the registration PH‑JPV.
    In February of that year, the jet touched down in Minneapolis, where it was presented to the team at North Central Airlines, giving them a firsthand look at its capabilities, design, and operational potential.
    This aircraft tour offered an enticing glimpse of what North Central Airlines’ fleet might have looked like had they opted to purchase the Fokker F‑28 Mk.4000, showcasing a combination of modern engineering, compact versatility, and efficient regional performance that the model was known for.

Ghana Airways

 

9G-ADA (cn.11187) at Accra Kotoka International Airport, picture by Neil Pidduck published at Airliners.net.

 

Ghana’s flag carrier traces its origins to the Ghanaian subsidiary of West African Airways, established in the final years of the colonial period. Although the airline was founded by the Ghanaian government, its early years also saw the participation of private capital. This mixed ownership structure remained in place until February 1961, when the government assumed full control of the company following its nationalisation.

From an early stage, the airline showed a clear interest in modernising its fleet and adopting jet aircraft. Within this context, the Fokker F-28 Fellowship emerged as an attractive option for short- and medium-haul operations. As an initial step, Ghana Airways leased two aircraft directly from the manufacturer, allowing the airline to assess their operational capabilities prior to permanent acquisition.

The first Fokker F-28s, belonging to the Mk. 2000 series, were delivered in 1974, marking a major milestone for the country’s commercial aviation sector and signalling Ghana’s entry into the jet age. The arrival of the two aircraft was celebrated with an official ceremony at Accra Airport, underlining the symbolic and operational importance of the event. Until then, Ghana Airways had relied primarily on propeller-driven aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, the Fokker F-27 and similar types, many of which were leased from the Ghana Air Force. The introduction of the F-28 enabled the airline to modernise its fleet, gradually replacing these older aircraft with faster, more comfortable services offering greater range on domestic and regional routes.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Fokker F-28 became a central component of Ghana Airways’ domestic and regional operations. Operating from its base in Accra, the aircraft served key internal routes such as Accra–Kumasi, Accra–Tamale and Accra–Takoradi, while also supporting an extensive regional network across West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. International destinations regularly served by the type included Abidjan, Lagos, Dakar, Freetown and Monrovia, routes that were well suited to the Fellowship’s range and capacity.

On 11 March 1981, one of the airline’s Fokker F-28s, registered 9G-ACA, was involved in an accident during a training flight at Accra Airport. The aircraft made a heavy landing, suffered a collapse of the landing gear and slid along the runway before coming to a stop. Both pilots survived and there were no additional injuries, although the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. To compensate for the loss, Ghana Airways acquired another Fokker F-28 in 1982, this time from the Mk. 4000 series, ensuring continuity in its regional operations.

The remaining Fokker F-28s remained in service until the mid-1990s, becoming an integral part of the airline’s operational history as its principal short-haul aircraft for more than two decades. In 1996, the two aircraft still in service were withdrawn and sold, bringing to a close a significant chapter in the history of Ghana Airways and in the modernisation of air transport in the country.

* msn. 11003 PH-MOL li. Nov71 - Nov74 li. Fokker.

* msn. 11032 PH-ZAV li. Ago72 - Oct72 li. Fokker.

* msn. 11032 PH-ZAV li. Ago73 -  Sep73 li. Fokker.

* msn. 11062 9G-ABZ dd. Jul74 - May96.

* msn. 11077 9G-ACA dd. May74 - Mar81.

* msn. 11187 9G-ADA dd. Ago82 - 1993.