Ravel From Finland, joined Feb 2006, 137 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 4068 times:
I booked a flight BRU-AMS and noticed that it is operated by KLM Cityhopper's Fokker 50 - which is not related to Fokker 100 but is a F.27-derived turboprop.
The plane looks really old but at least the cockpit is modern. Overall, how advanced or modern is the plane? Can I expect a noisy flight? (Of course, as an aviation enthusiast, I am really looking forward to this flight - it'll be my first time in a turboprop.)
It was also interesting to note that my "flight" AMS-BRU is operated by 2H, which is registered as an airline but does not operate any planes - that is the Thalys train, whose connections have flight numbers! It has even codeshare with many major airlines (including AA).
Keuleatr72 From Germany, joined Apr 2008, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 4035 times:
Every time i transferred through AMS I have really enjoyed the hop from DUS to AMS on the Fokker 50.
Of course, the plane is not brand new. Production ended in 1996, when Fokker filed for bankruptcy. So the newest bird around is at least 12 years old.
And of course, the cabin of the, lets say, Q400 is not so noisy compared to the Fokker cabin. But for me it was always ok. The Fokker 50 still it is a great plane IMO.
BTW: Does KLM has any plans to replace the Fokker 50?
LifelinerOne From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 1413 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 4021 times:
Quoting Keuleatr72 (Reply 1): BTW: Does KLM has any plans to replace the Fokker 50?
Yes, there was a rumour that a UFO order for DHC-8-400's was for KLM Cityhopper, but in the end this was proven to be false because the order was for Air Berlin.
That said, there are plans to replace them with another turboprop plane like the DHC-8-400 and I know there were some talks, but I don't know the status at the moment.
Columba From Germany, joined Dec 2004, 4646 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 3965 times:
Quoting LifelinerOne (Reply 2): That said, there are plans to replace them with another turboprop plane like the DHC-8-400 and I know there were some talks, but I don't know the status at the moment.
Would be great - the Q400 would look awesome in KLM colors
“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” John Lennon
Ravel From Finland, joined Feb 2006, 137 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 3690 times:
Quoting Stylo777 (Reply 5): Quoting Ravel (Thread starter):It was also interesting to note that my "flight" AMS-BRU is operated by 2H,
are you sure? it's most probably HN instead of 2H as HN is the code for KLM Cityhopper which operates your flight
EHRD From Netherlands, joined Jun 2005, 39 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3548 times:
Quoting Keuleatr72 (Reply 1): BTW: Does KLM has any plans to replace the Fokker 50?
I don't know if they are going to be replaced but two Fokker 50s left the fleet already some time ago (PH-KVA and KVB). The PH-KVC is about to leave the fleet in the next couple of days/weeks and the PH-KVD will also leave the fleet very soon. The PH-KVA and PH-KVB went to Air Baltic, the PH-KVC and PH-KVD will be converted to freighters.
Legacy135 From Switzerland, joined May 2005, 1019 posts, RR: 18 Reply 8, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3512 times:
Actually I felt as a passenger on the F50 always to be on the "Cadillac of the Turboprops". Sure, it's not a fast aircraft but real nice to ride on. I personally prefer the F50 over any turboprop Q400 incl. The Q400 is in my personal opinion not as comfortable as a SAAB 2000, Do328 or - as said - the F50. Have a great flight!
Lapper From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 1322 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3271 times:
Quoting Stylo777 (Reply 5): are you sure? it's most probably HN instead of 2H as HN is the code for KLM Cityhopper which operates your flight
KL also put their code on rail services between AMS-BRU. It looks like the OP is flying one way and training it the other. Not something a TRUE A.net person would do...
Number of flights so far this year - 17. Next flights - LHR-ARN-LHR BA 763
Ravel From Finland, joined Feb 2006, 137 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 3192 times:
Quoting Lapper (Reply 11): KL also put their code on rail services between AMS-BRU. It looks like the OP is flying one way and training it the other. Not something a TRUE A.net person would do...
Yeah, Thalys' "flight" 2H 9382 (or something) is KLM's flight KL 2665. I have never travelled on a Thalys train and this was quite a convenient connection so I took it.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 5508 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 month 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 2275 times:
Quoting Keuleatr72 (Reply 1): Of course, the plane is not brand new. Production ended in 1996, when Fokker filed for bankruptcy. So the newest bird around is at least 12 years old.
I believe most KL F50s were built between 1990 and 1993.
Quoting Legacy135 (Reply 8): Actually I felt as a passenger on the F50 always to be on the "Cadillac of the Turboprops". Sure, it's not a fast aircraft but real nice to ride on.
The F50 is probably the closest you can get today to flying on a classic airliner of the 1950s due to its F-27 heritage. Although the technology (engines, avionics etc.) is much more modern, the F50's basic structure is the same as the original F-27 that made its first flight 53 years ago and went into service 50 years ago this September.
As a sidenote, the first F-27 to go into service wasn't a Fokker-built aircraft but a U.S. license-built Fairchild F-27 with West Coast Airlines of SEA, a predecessor of Air West which became Hughes Airwest then merged with Republic before being acquired by NW. The F-27 in the first photo below was the first one delivered to West Coast in July 1958. Not sure if it was the first in service as they took delivery of about 5 before they went into service in September (a month before Pan Am put the first 707 into service). EI was the first operator of the Fokker-built F-27, later the same month if not mistaken. I miss the F-27's huge windows, much like those on the Vickers Viscount.
Varig_dc10 From United Kingdom (England), joined Aug 2001, 285 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (1 month 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 1182 times:
I once flew to Dublin and back on an Aer Lingus Fokker 50. A group of us went there for a drinking weekend.
From the moment we took off, one of the lads started complaining about back ache.
When we got to Dublin, we headed for 'The Bad Ass Cafe' for something to eat. We'd barely finished the meal when the bloke with the bad back decided he had to go to the hospital.
It turned out he had an ingrowing hair at the base of his back. The flight had obviously aggravated it and he ended up spending the full weekend in hospital. When we went to visit him, there were two old Irish blokes on the same ward. They asked if we had heard the joke about the Englishman who came all the way to Ireland to get a hair removed from his @rse!
I can't remember a lot about the flights, they were about 10 years ago now. Lately I've been flying quite a lot between NCL/MME and AMS with work. Some of my colleagues complain when the MME flights get changed from an F70 to an F50. It's never happened to me, but I'd quite like to fly on another F50. It would make a change from the F70/100's.
I'm really looking forward to KLM getting the E190's. I've flown on the E170 a few times between MXP and BEG, with Alitalia Express. I think they are great aircrafts, certainly more comfortable than the F70 and F100.
Has anybody seen a picture of the E190 in KLM livery? I looked on Modified Airliner Photos but couldn't find anything.
F27Friendship From Netherlands, joined Jul 2007, 996 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (1 month 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 648 times:
if you compare it to competitor aircraft like the ATRs and Q's it's a much more mature design.
A good example are the ice-forming related accidents with ATR's , something Fokker had already figured out.
I'm not sure how it compares in direct operating costs, but it is still an extremely efficient aircraft for short hops like Amsterdam/Rotterdam to London
Vfw614 From Germany, joined Dec 2001, 2076 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (1 month 2 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 455 times:
Quoting Legacy135 (Reply 8): Actually I felt as a passenger on the F50 always to be on the "Cadillac of the Turboprops".
Indeed. It is worth noting that in the late 1980s the Fokker 50 was the turboprop of choice for most European legacy carriers while the Dash 8 or ATR42 was mainly attracting from regional airlines. Examples: Lufthansa/DLT, SAS, KLM, Austrian, Luxair, Aer Lingus.
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