The Fokker 70 is a short-range twinjet powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 620 turbofans. Manufactured by the Dutch Fokker company, the aircraft first flew on 4 April 1993 and entered airline service with Sempati Air in March 1995.
A total of 4.62 metres was removed from the Fokker 100 to create the plane, which has a maximum capacity of 85 passengers. It can fly up to 3,410 kilometres or 2,119 miles.
Fokker 70 Videos
Following on from the last video about the French Latécoère 631 flying boat, this time we stay in Europe to look at the Fokker 70. The promotional video, called “Fokker 100 The Market Strategist” is produced by the manufacturer. Everything in it applies to the F70 as well.
There is quite a good flavour of the 1990s airline operations, with big hair and moustaches on the USAir staff! I also enjoyed the interesting close up shots of the aircraft, which are certainly worth seeing. And is that narrator Australian? Now for a quick two minute look at the actual Fokker 70.
Some excellent shots of the aeroplane in that one, and when you compare the videos, you can see clearly that they are very similar all round.
Overall Thoughts
Due to Fokker going bankrupt, only 48 Fokker 70s were produced between 1992 and 1997. Most of them still exist, with the largest concentration located in Australia at Alliance Airlines, who have 16.
Other than that, you would be hard pressed to find them, since airlines like KLM have retired the aircraft from active service. Even so, they are going strong, for now.
Have you ever been on board a Fokker 70? What was it like? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Aloxe via Wikimedia Commons.
I’ve flown the Fokker 70 with Austrian and KLM. I’ve also been a regular on the larger Fokker 100 with Helvetic, KLM and Austrian. Really loved both aircraft as I found them very comfortable particularly compared to other regional jets, I’ve been sad to see them go. I did read that a small Cypriot airline called Tus Airways was operating some F.70’s but not yet had a chance to go on one with them and relive some travel memories!
Both are definitely aircraft I want to get on board before they go. Luckily there are plenty of them in Australia so I will hopefully get an opportunity. You certainly have a lot of time on them, which is great. Hope you get another flight sometime down the line.
I did fly the Fokker 70 from 1995-2011 to 17 european airports with 4 companies : KLM Cityhopper, Austian, Tyrolean and Air littoral in total 25’000 km. It was quite an enjoyable plane.
Excellent, you really have a lot of experience with the plane there. Glad you liked it! Thank you for sharing that.
Such a cute little Fokker! A few made it to the US. There was a subsidiary of Mesa (I think) called Desert Sun which flew on behalf of America West out of PHX. DSM was one of the destinations served, can’t remember the others. I don’t recall how many F70s the outfit had, probably no more than 4. I was saddened with the demise of Fokker, as I thought the F70 had real potential in the US market. Alas, ’twas not to be.
Yes, I do believe the F70 even had a seat reduction available to fit in with US carriers scope clauses in the pilot contracts. It is a shame Fokker went bust really, as they certainly made some decent reliable aircraft in their time.
I’ve flown on them quite a few times, probably all with Austrian Airlines. I only remember the last one – in 2015, Moscow to Vienna. The Uber ride to DME airport was INSANE – the driver was definitely drunk. So I remember quite clearly breathing a sigh of relief when I boarded, I knew with Austrian I was in much better hands! The plane was in very good condition despite the age. Actually, the seat was much better-bolstered and plusher and reclined more than I was used to (I think NEK seats were a thing by this point on OS/LH… Read more »
Sounds like the Uber ride to end all Uber rides. I wouldn’t have found that particularly fun, that’s for sure. I bet you were happy to be on the flight! Thanks for sharing that – sounds like the seating was really nice on board. I wonder if they still have those seats, or whether the new owners changed them. Enjoyed the read – thanks again!