FAP390

The countries of the so-called Andean region are characterized by vast territories divided by various mountain ranges running from north to south. At the same time, a series of valleys of varying altitudes are formed, which in some cases can only be traversed by air. To the east, the surface is covered with dense vegetation that also hinders communication. Since the early days of aviation, these areas have posed significant challenges, and various aircraft models that flew through the region have done so with varying degrees of success. Although Fokker did not flood the South American market, its different products stood out for over forty years. The modest Dutch company left an operational presence in the region that undoubtedly left a mark.

During March 1975, it became known that the presidency of Peru had started negotiations to acquire an aircraft for the Peruvian Executive Power. It was also rumored that the aircraft was already in the production line. In Argentina, the government had been using one for the Executive Power since 1970, while the presidency of Colombia had one since February 1971. By July 1975, various media outlets confirmed the imminent arrival of the aircraft in Peru. In October 1975, it was revealed that the aircraft would be identified as 390. On December 8, 1975, the aircraft was reported in Amsterdam with the dual registration PH-EXY/390. Since it was the 100th unit assembled by the Dutch manufacturer, the aircraft temporarily displayed the phrase "100th Fokker - VFW F-28 Fellowship". The aircraft had been ordered during the presidency of General Juan Velasco Alvarado, the same president who founded the airline AeroPerú in May 1973. However, the plane did not arrive until Francisco Morales Bermúdez succeeded him (1975–1980). Before the arrival of the Fellowship, Peruvian presidents traveled on Douglas DC-6 aircraft from the Peruvian Air Force, although on certain occasions, such as a visit to Buenos Aires in May 1965, the Convair 990s from Aerolíneas Peruanas SA were used.

On March 30, 1976, the Peruvian Air Force took possession of the Fokker F-28, which, as detailed, displayed the serial number 390. The next day, the aircraft flew in ferry between Amsterdam and Keflavik. From the factory, the aircraft sported a very sober livery, which it would maintain for years. Specifically: completely white, with a dark blue/black line running along the fuselage, accompanied by two fine stripes of the same color. On the front section, above the windows, small titles of the Peruvian Air Force were displayed. The aircraft’s serial number was placed on the tail, preceding the colors of the Peruvian flag. A small national insignia was positioned on the lower front, near the belly. President Francisco Morales Bermúdez used the aircraft on July 17, 1979, during a protocol visit to Buenos Aires, operating directly at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery. 

 

 

Over time, this aircraft was available to Presidents Fernando Belaúnde Terry (1980 - 1985), who visited Buenos Aires aboard this aircraft in December 1983 to attend the inauguration of President Raúl Alfonsín. Alan García (1985 - 1990) also arrived at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery on March 15, 1986. Finally, it was used by Alberto Fujimori. In 1995, Fujimori introduced a Boeing 737-528, relegating the Fellowship’s role. Nevertheless, the aircraft still had significant operational life. In June 1991, it was sent to the Netherlands for a major overhaul, and was reported at Rotterdam/The Hague Airport on June 16, 1991. From that point, it was given a new livery, similar to the modern scheme adopted for the new Boeing 737-528. Previously, on May 4, 1995, a report was issued -II-55-OPDP-Nº0359-, endorsed by Lieutenant General FAP Waldo Richter Cruz, Director of Operations of the Peruvian Air Force, which stated the need to refurbish the Fellowship, which at that time had already accumulated two decades of service to the presidency.

As in other countries of the region, during the visit of Pope John Paul II to Peru, this aircraft was at the service of the pontiff. Between February 1 and 5, 1985, the Pope visited several Peruvian cities, including Arequipa, Ayacucho, Trujillo, Piura, and Iquitos, and in some of these destinations, the Fellowship was used. In other cases, a Boeing 727 from AeroPerú was used. As was customary, a papal standard was applied behind the door of the aircraft used.

Since the presidency had two Douglas DC-8-62 aircraft since December 1981, in March 1993, the F-28 was temporarily leased to the American airline Americana de Aviación. In this case, it was given a civil registration, OB-1396, which would remain in place for the time being.

The “Mike Oscar Lima” Demo

The Global Promotional Tours of Fokker F-28 Fellowship PH-MOL

    Contrary to long-standing belief, the Fokker F-28 Mk.1000 PH-MOL (cn.11003) was not the third prototype. Rather, it became the first production aircraft — a fact confirmed by its service with numerous operators throughout its life. In its early years, it was involved in various promotional tours and demonstration flights around the world.

In February–March 1969, test pilots Jas Moll and Abe van der Schraaf flew the F-28 on a demonstration tour through Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Norfolk Island. The tour covered 96,500 kilometres in 150 flying hours, with 50 demonstration flights, 20 evaluation flights for interested airlines, and a total of 2,000 guests who experienced the Fellowship.

    The PH-MOL departed from Amsterdam and followed the route: Damascus – Karachi – Rangoon – Singapore/Jakarta – Darwin – Perth – Mt Isa – Brisbane – Sydney – Tamworth – Dubbo – Melbourne – Albury – Mildura – Canberra – Adelaide – Norfolk Island – Christchurch – Wellington – Auckland – Nandi – Suva – Tonga – Pago Pago – Apia – Funafuti – Tarawa.

    During its visit to Perth on 15 February 1969, the aircraft was presented to MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA). There, test pilot Jas Moll stunned all the pilots present by landing almost at the very end of runway 20 and coming to a stop just before the 300-metre markers.

    The aircraft arrived in New Zealand on 28 February 1969, landing in Wellington, from where several demonstration flights were conducted over the following week.

    On 1 March 1969, a flight with 50 VIPs took place, departing from Wellington with Invercargill as the final destination and a stopover at Hokitika Airport, where the gravel runway provided another opportunity to demonstrate the Fellowship’s short-field performance. On 4 March 1969, it was seen in Christchurch, and also visited the airports of Rongotai and Napier.

During its New Zealand tour, the PH-MOL was demonstrated to National Airways, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Air New Zealand. After the tour of Oceania and Australia, it returned to Amsterdam and was leased to the Italian airline ITAVIA.

    On 25 April 1970, it was spotted at the Hannover Air Show in Germany, already wearing the full Braathens SAFE livery, as it had been leased to the Norwegian airline until 24 April.

Subsequently, it embarked on a South American demonstration tour. It departed Amsterdam Schiphol on 22 May 1970 in basic Braathens SAFE colours, bearing the titles “Fokker F-28 Fellowship” on the fuselage and “F28” on the tail. This was PH-MOL’s fourth demonstration tour.

    Demonstrations began in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. From Bogotá, the aircraft flew to Montería — the first jet flight ever to that airport — as well as Corozal and Bucaramanga. In these cities, the F-28 proved to be the most capable jet for operations on short and medium-length runways.

    It then continued on to Lima (Peru) and Antofagasta (Chile). By the end of May 1970, it landed at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was also tested on an unpaved runway at La Rioja Airport. In Argentina, a total of 487 people flew on the Fellowship, including senior civil aviation authorities. Eleven demonstration flights were conducted, including evaluations by Aerolíneas Argentinas, ALA, Austral, and the Argentine Air Force.

A few days later, PH-MOL continued its journey to Montevideo (Uruguay), and subsequently to Brazil. It was seen on 6 June at Rio de Janeiro's Galeão and Santos Dumont airports, and on 9 June at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, followed by visits to Brasília, Itabuna and Belém.

The journey continued through Paramaribo (Suriname), and in Venezuela, it visited Caracas and Curaçao (on 17 June 1970), before heading to Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) and Antigua.

    The Fokker F-28 Fellowship operated on all types of surfaces — grass, gravel, dirt, sand, and paved runways. In many cases, it visited small towns that had previously only been accessible to aircraft like the Douglas DC-3.

    The PH-MOL returned to Amsterdam on 23 June 1970 and, in September, it participated in the Farnborough Air Show sporting the manufacturer’s new paint scheme.

Gonzalo Carballo

Sources: “I Flew for MMA” – Red Atkins; Focus on F.28 (video), Fokkernews, Revista Extra, Interavia magazine, Vol. 25, 1970, Aero Digest Vols. 67–72 (1970), Arms Transfers to Latin America: Toward a Policy of Mutual Respect, Ed. 1173 – Luigi R. Einaudi, 1973.

A Special Flight

 At Zapala airport (APZ).

The Argentine Air Force's Fokker F-28 Mk.1000C TC-53 (CN. 11020) remains active, carrying out several flights these days.

A special flight took place on September 26, 2025, when it took off from El Palomar bound for Zapala (APZ) – San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC), finally landing in El Calafate (FTE). The aircraft transported Argentine Army troops who will conduct an operation in the El Calafate area, in the south of Argentina.

 Arriving in El Calafate

Thanks to: Fernando Jara, Marcos Funes, and DAD.

Southern Fellowships

 

Fokker F-28 in Patagonian environment (Farewell to the F-28 TC-54 cn.11018)

 

Miguel Antonio Geldres worked at Aerolíneas Argentinas from 1980 until his retirement. He served as an aircraft mechanic at the Comodoro Rivadavia airport in Argentina.

In Comodoro Rivadavia, Aerolíneas Argentinas' Fokker F-28 aircraft operated very little. On several occasions, Miguel was sent on assignment to service the Fellowship at some of the stops where it operated. In this way, in 1991 and 1992, he was assigned to Villa Gessell for the summer season. During those years, he also serviced flights at the Santa Rosa stop on three occasions, and also in Viedma.

 

"Once, during a landing in Santa Rosa, an F-28 had hydraulic problems that forced the crew to manually deploy the landing gear. First, the gear doors were opened using a crank located in the cockpit. After landing, both engines were shut down and the aircraft came to a stop on the runway. The passengers disembarked from the aircraft and had to walk to the terminal! The failure had occurred in one of the engines, so hydraulic fluid was added, the other engine was started, and with the momentum they were able to taxi the aircraft to the apron."

 

Special color scheme.

 

Over the years Miguel worked in Comodoro Rivadavia, he was able to observe the operation of Fokker F-28 aircraft of both the Argentine Air Force and the Naval Aviation.

We thank Miguel for his collaboration.