Fokker Fellowship: The endless Colombian

Welcome aboard

The great success that Fokker achieved with its F27 model encouraged the Dutch manufacturer to go one step further. In this way, in Apr1962 the new project was announced: The F28 Fellowship.
On the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the prototype´s first flight, -May 9, 1967-, we glad to invite you to the launch of this new Blog fokkerfellowship28.blogspot.com, dedicated absolutely to the Fellowship.
We invite all those who are passionate about this small Dutch colossus to share their experiences, photographs, or information in this space. The site is under development, and we hope all readers will like it.
Welcome aboard

Gonzalo Carballo, Esteban Lerín & Carlos Abella
E-m@il - fokkerfellowship28@gmail.com

Affectionately nicknamed "The Coffee Maker" in Colombia, one surviving F-28 is FAC1041 (cn. 11162) belonging to the Colombian Air Force, which is currently still flying.

This is an F-28 Mk.3000 that first flew on July 3, 1980, bearing the test registration PH-EXY. It had originally been ordered by Sun Pacific Airlines. The American company decided not to acquire it, so on August 16, 1981, it was registered in the name of Fokker. In the early 1980s, an attempt was made to market it in negotiations with the Bolivian government for Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, but this also fell through.

During January 1985, it was converted to the Mk.3000C version, with the addition of a cargo door. On January 3, 1985, it was re-registered as PH-EZL.

It was soon acquired by the Colombian government for SATENA Airlines. The aircraft was delivered on February 7, 1985, with registration FAC1141 and christened "El Llanero".

On September 22, 1998, it was damaged when it overshot the runway during a landing in Villavicencio. This accident caused the nose landing gear to detach. The aircraft was dismantled and transported on a Heavylift Short Belfast aircraft to Woensdrecht, the Netherlands, for repairs. Upon its return to Colombia, it was observed in service on February 2, 1999, displaying SATENA's new colors.

On April 11, 2002, it was dismissed from the airline with a cannon salute and transferred to the Colombian Air Force.

As such, on April 1, 2003, it was observed in Bogotá with its new registration FAC1041. On March 24, 2006, it was temporarily transferred to SATENA.

Its longevity is partly due to its excellent maintenance. This aircraft arrived at Woensdrecht on February 22, 2013, for major inspection and the installation of a center fuel tank. It also received a new paint scheme. Following the completion of the work, it completed a test flight on October 10, 2013, and returned to Colombia on October 19, 2013.

On December 1, 2021, it returned to Woensdrecht for a general check. On August 1, 2022, it was seen being towed. On August 3 and 10, 2022, it performed test flights and then returned to Colombia.