The endless Colombian

    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.

Below is a breakdown of FAC1041's flights obtained using the Flightradar 24 app, along with information from images posted online.

Never delivered #14

 

In February–March 1969, the Fokker F-28 Mk. 1000 PH-MOL (cn. 11003) made a promotional tour of Oceania. Among the countries visited was New Zealand, and the aircraft was observed in Hokitika on February 27, 1969, and March 1, 1969.

In early March 1969, it made a six-day visit to Wellington, where National Airways (NAC), a civilian division of the Ministry of Transport, evaluated the F-28 and, while not expressing immediate interest, considered the aircraft for possible acquisition in early 1970.

On March 4, 1969, PH-MOL (cn. 11003) was sighted at Christchurch Airport. The aircraft also visited Napier Airport.

Sources: 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com, press photos, Hokitika Guardian

I'm in a hurry! There's no time to waste!

 

On Thursday, June 19, 2025, the tireless Fokker F-28 Mk.1000C TC-53 (cn. 11020) of the Air Force performed another regular passenger service for "Líneas Aéreas del Estado" (LADE). This was flight 5U502, which departed from Buenos Aires - Jorge Newbery Airport - and, after making stops in Mar del Plata and Bahía Blanca, landed in San Carlos de Bariloche. The return flight was 5U503, which departed from Bariloche with Aeroparque as its final destination and intermediate stops in Bahía Blanca and Mar del Plata.

We thank Francisco Jaime and Agustín Esparza for the images sent.