[Note: The Fokker name has been familiar to me, since the earliest days of my interest in aviation (long before the start of my "pretend-pilot" days...🙂...). But there was, in particular, one (early) SIM aircraft that had brought the name closer to me and had made me look into its fascinating history. That SIM was "Digital Aviation (F1) Fokker 70/100". Although it noticeably lacked a Virtual Cockpit, what a wonderful simulation of this aircraft, it was, for its time...! I read a bit today about this SIM on Flight1 website (1) "The main goal for this product is to simulate every system in the Fokker 70 and 100 aircraft. 4 years of development so far have made this one of the most advanced simulations to date. This plane must be flown very much like the real world version that is flying with many airlines today." (2) (The FMC and) AFCAS (autopilot) features all real world functions to the highest level of realism for this aircraft type." And, the creators (RW pilots included) meant it...! From a casual simmer perspective, like myself, the SIM was also easy to fly and great fun...(I distinctly recall e.g. the unique Co-Pilot Call-outs etc. and I think the SIM would still fly well for me if I do so (haven't flown it in years)). And, maybe the SIM will again come back to us, one-day, re-created,...🙂...along with a [VC]...!]

This post, however, is about the Fokker-50 Turboprop, not about the Fokker-70/100 Jets.

(Largely forgotten) Anthony Fokker, founder of the historic Fokker company, was an enigmatic character in aviation history. Born in the Netherlands, inspired to aviation by the Wright Brothers, with no formal education of his own but a penchant and obsession for mechanics ("making things"), he contributed to the nascent aviation industry in two continents in the countries of Germany and America. In 1910, he moved to Germany, for training to be an automobile mechanic, went on to build many famous warplanes for Germany during WWI, then, at the war's end, returned to Netherlands, founded the Dutch Aircraft Factory (real root of the later-day Fokker company), moved to U.S. in ~1924, contributed to aviation in this country, too, and died, at the young age of 49, in New York City. His Fokker Dr.1 is well-known as the aircraft of choice of WWI ace, Manfred von Richthofen, the (legendary) Red Baron. Likewise, his first (post-war) civilian aircraft, the Fokker F.VII, also known as the Fokker Trimotor, was an extremely popular airliner of the 1920s-1930s (built both in the Netherlands, and in the U.S. under license). The Fokker Trimotor was used by 54 airlines worldwide.

In some sense, the 1920s/1930s were actually the glory days of Fokker. Although Fokker Company would later, in modern times, produce "good" planes (both Props and Jets), except for the F27/FH227 Turboprop (arguably the most successful European airliner of its era), their other aircraft, for multiple reasons, including stiff competition from comparable aircraft, would fail to capture commercial success. Fokker-50, subject aircraft of this post, was an evolution from the highly successful F-27 Friendship. Among many advancements, one key change was the adoption of the more efficient and more powerful Pratt & Whitney engines (the predecessor F27 had the famous (RR) Trent Dart). In some of the images below, you may look for the classic P & W Eagle (DEPENDABLE ENGINES) logo.

Here, I'm flying the F50 by Carenado (every time, there is a Carenado SALE, as on-going now, I tell myself I already have almost all of Carenado planes, but, then, I find one that I've not got yet, and it snares me somehow...🙂..this time it was the F50)! I've chosen Austrian as my Airline. If you're a fan of Austrian, you might find this 1980's simple but elegant livery interesting. In fact, recently, Austrian Airlines has painted some (one A320?) of its aircraft in this retro livery. Core elements of this livery (see images) are the angular (Red) Chevron arrow, the grey aircraft belly and the traditional red-white-red flag on the tail-fin of the aircraft. The locale, for this flight, is Norman Manley International Airport (MKJP), serving the capital city of Kingston, Jamaica. This scenery, I happened to recall, today, was a freebie from the SimMarket giveaways. For this post, I've done just half a circuit, taking off Rwy 30 (i.e. into the (interior) land side) and, U-turning back to Rwy 12 (while, for a bit of variation, re-setting the time, for landing, so darkness has fallen).

Notwithstanding the extent of fidelity of simulation for the avionics/FMC etc., here, for the SIM, hope, you, still, enjoy these images of this classic and beautiful turboprop, which was, indeed, a good (RW) aircraft, but, succumbed to the (cumulative) challenges from equally good ones in the market: ATR-42/Saab-340/Bombardier Dash-8...etc.!

Thanks for your interest and comments...! And, happy Flying...!!

[Carenado(F50)/Rwy26-Simulations(MKJP)/REX]

Great visuals, as can be expected from Carenado 🍻

Fantastic History,Thank You

Mark and Patrick (et al.):

Thanks...!! Much appreciated the comments...!

Top shots and as always, an interesting piece of history coming with it, P_7878 !

Great set and informative piece. 

Bernd, Simeon:

Good to hear these additional comments from you both...!! Thanks...!

Great pics!