ImperialEagle From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1243 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 3442 times:
F-27's were such fun airplanes to fly on. Here at ATL, PI used to operate them. In those days the observation deck (at the 1961 'Jetport") was adjacent to PI's gates and you could really get "up close and personal" with PI's aircraft. And yes, those RR Darts were loud! The PI pilots would kill #1 as they swung around and coast right on up to the gate. A practiced technique.
My favourite seat on the F-27 was just aft of the wing. Those huge oval windows afforded a great view of all the action. The main gear wheels could be observed on the runway spooling up in a puff of smoke for landing and the gear retracted aft right in front of you on take-off. Also there was a graph printed on the wing root with the degree of flap printed out so one could tell at a glance from inside the cabin what position they were in. The seats were so large and comfortable and those PI crews were ALWAYS friendly and professional. Great flights.
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough!"
TheLUREnyc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 3438 times:
I remember that observation deck very well. AHHH, the good old days!
I never flew on the PI F-27s, but was a F/A on the F-27 for Business Express (and previously, for Pilgrim Airlines) and even though we had some of the OLDEST F-27s around (1958/59 vintage!), they were still always my favorite plane to fly over the Shorts 360s and Saab 340s, which we also flew. You felt like you were in a serious plane when you were in an F-27!
Thanks for sharing your memories too, Imperial Eagle!
Access-Air From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1939 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3392 times:
Awesome Video......
All I need to find is someone that might have some video of the Fairchild Hiller FH-227...The stretched American License built version of the Fokker F.27....That would make me happy.....
Great Video tho...nice to hear an F.27 again...Used to see D-ADUP all the time as Air Wisconsin's N510AW in Moline, Illinois....I miss seeing any F27 model of plane anymore....who can not love the RR Darts!!! It sounds like they removed the hushkits from the engines on this one....The scream is not muted as with the hushkits.
Bohica From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2430 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3380 times:
Cool video. I used to work at IAD and ZW would have 4 or 5 F-27's starting up at the same time. I love hearing the sound of a RR dart.
TheLUREnyc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3202 times:
That sound is killer, isn't it? I dont think I ever heard any other engine that sounds as tough as the RR Dart!
Quoting Access-Air (Reply 3): All I need to find is someone that might have some video of the Fairchild Hiller FH-227...The stretched American License built version of the Fokker F.27....That would make me happy.....
I love your website - and I'm always on the lookout for any vid clips of these great planes (both F-27 and FH-227) . . so will def. let u know if I come across any!
Quoting Access-Air (Reply 3): It sounds like they removed the hushkits from the engines on this one....The scream is not muted as with the hushkits.
Glad they did! In this case, hushkits baaaaaad! Actually I don't think I ever heard the sound of a hushkitted version!
Thanks for the nice replies, too - nice to see a few folks like myself miss these great planes !
EZEIZA From Argentina, joined Aug 2004, 4943 posts, RR: 28 Reply 6, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3191 times:
You can still see some F27's in Argentina that re operated by LADE and are more common to see during the summer season when they cover some routes from AEP to the coastal resorts. The sound is amazing!
Sushka From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 4784 posts, RR: 16 Reply 7, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3164 times:
M404 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 2214 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (6 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3065 times:
I can tell you that despite the F-27 being one of my all time favorites, that anyone who worked them in the 60s before all the hearing safety equipment was manditory now has at a minimum a severe loss of high end hearing. I always remember connecting the ground power or reaching into the nose wheel well to lock the gear down with both Darts whining like raped banshies. Then their were the times when you were in that well and the hydrolics or whatever pressurized system it was would let go and you'd bang your head both ways from the surprise and noise. Oh yeah, and F-27 knee caps marked you for life. Then the cargo door falling down on your neck as you crawled in to lock it. Hmmmm. Maybe it wasn't my favorite after all. 12 years working them and I still run outside when I hear that sound on approach.
Less sarcasm and more thought equal better understanding
Access-Air From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1939 posts, RR: 15 Reply 9, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2878 times:
M404:
Yeah as a small Kid we used to go to our local airport here and watch Ozark Air Lines' FH-227Bs.....No hearing protection there...When they went bye bye it was then MVA with their Fokker F.27s, Britt with their FH-227s and F-27s and Air Wisconsin (altho hushkitted) with Fokker F.27s and finally Mesaba with Fokkers too....Lots of time around loud Darts. My favourite part tho was when they would start at nite and you got to watch to see how big the ignition flame was that would shoot out the exhaust stack.....Sometime it was nothing and sometimes I saw it shoot about 7-10 feet backwards....And yes, now that I am approacing my 40th year, I have suffered a hearing loss from all the jet and RR Dart noise I have encountered over the years but I wouldnt trade it for anything!!!!
Quoting M404 (Reply 8): Then their were the times when you were in that well and the hydrolics or whatever pressurized system it was would let go and you'd bang your head both ways from the surprise and noise
Might you have been referring to the pilots either setting or releasing the pneumatic parking brakes? They made a Tshhh Tshhh sound like on a big dump truck....The flaps and landing gear and breaks on the FH-227 and F27s all used pneumatics...
Yes Its too bad that there arent still many in service anymore.....Mostly relegated to flying cargo....It may have been referred by some as a turbosnail but, slow doesnt actually mean thats its not able to do its job....
Yes TheLUREnyc, please keep an eye out....
Im looking for footage of ANY Ozark, Northeast, Mohawk or Piedmont FH-227 video or even Britt Airways or Air New England....
Beertrucker From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 402 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2845 times:
Quoting TheLUREnyc (Reply 2): I never flew on the PI F-27s, but was a F/A on the F-27 for Business Express (and previously, for Pilgrim Airlines) and even though we had some of the OLDEST F-27s around (1958/59 vintage!), they were still always my favorite plane to fly over the Shorts 360s and Saab 340s, which we also flew. You felt like you were in a serious plane when you were in an F-27!
You Got me thinking of me as a kid. I used to go to HVN all the time to watch them and all the other flights there. I wonder if I ever watched one of your flights. But since you made me think of all this I found this for you.
DIJKKIJK From France, joined Jul 2003, 1677 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 2726 times:
I grew up listening to those RR dart engines. Their sound is like music to my ears !
In my view, the RR Dart is the nicest sounding engine, Pure music!
Nice video!
Never argue with idiots. They will bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.
Philhyde From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 674 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 2714 times:
Access-Air From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1939 posts, RR: 15 Reply 13, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2654 times:
Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 11): I grew up listening to those RR dart engines. Their sound is like music to my ears !
In my view, the RR Dart is the nicest sounding engine, Pure music!
Try out my FH-227 website and you can hear some of the Darts from inside and out of the FH-227s. Just go to the Sound section...
And yes, the Dart is my All time Favourite turboprop engine!!!! http://fh227.rwy34.com
Britair From United Kingdom, joined Aug 1999, 933 posts, RR: 17 Reply 14, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2636 times:
That was awesome! Almost brought tears to my eyes! (seriously!! ) I grew up in Australia and was forever on and off Friendships during my childhood visiting relatives around NSW.
DIJKKIJK From France, joined Jul 2003, 1677 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2636 times:
Quoting Access-Air (Reply 13): Try out my FH-227 website and you can hear some of the Darts from inside and out of the FH-227s. Just go to the Sound section...
Thanks Access-Air! Spectacular website, that!
Very Good work!
I just love that VRAAAOOOOOOMMMM when the airplane turns....it sounds so nice with the RR dart
[Edited 2006-07-27 21:59:25]
[Edited 2006-07-27 22:02:57]
Never argue with idiots. They will bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.
Access-Air From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1939 posts, RR: 15 Reply 16, posted (6 years 10 months 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2607 times:
Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 15): Thanks Access-Air! Spectacular website, that!
Very Good work!
Many thanks!! Its my favourite plane....Ihope that you leave me some feedback with the feedback function....
TheLUREnyc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2469 times:
Quoting Beertrucker (Reply 10): I used to go to HVN all the time to watch them and all the other flights there. I wonder if I ever watched one of your flights. But since you made me think of all this I found this for you.
Especially HVN -- I flew thru there constantly! Thanks for the pic too!
Dtwclipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2463 times:
Quoting TheLUREnyc (Reply 2): I never flew on the PI F-27s, but was a F/A on the F-27 for Business Express (and previously, for Pilgrim Airlines) and even though we had some of the OLDEST F-27s around (
I also worked for PM at JFK and LGA and also did some time as a f/a on the F-27 and F-28!
TheLUREnyc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2447 times:
Quoting Dtwclipper (Reply 19): also worked for PM at JFK and LGA and also did some time as a f/a on the F-27 and F-28!
How r ya man? U flew the F-28 too? I never got trained on it as it just flew JFK-YOW pretty much .. i was pretty much doing the DCA and LGA routes out of GON/HVN/BDR etc - occasionally wld take some trips out of BDL just to get a little variety. PM was a bity, shall we say, -loose- with their crew scheduling ! I think thats why they liked having as many agents as poss F/A-trained so that they cld just throw anyone on the plane when the need arose. Actually, maybe that was pretty smart, come to think of it!
M404 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 2214 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2371 times:
Access-Air
Ref Wheel well sound.
No, this was a very loud (when in confined space) bang that us rampers always did suspect was done by pilots, whether on purpose or not. No gentle whoosh hear but a slammed opened bang.
I live under the pattern at MEM and have noticed that all the F-27s they had at "Feeder City" seem to have been replaced by ATRs so it's a sound I probably won't hear again and will sorely miss. M-A-N-Y happy memories at Pacific airlines, Bonanza, AirWest, and Hughes Airwest with this plane. Windows were something very few will get the pleasure of any more. From knee to forehead. How many civil acft can make that claim for a passenger?
I've been back to that FH-227 site several times since you introduced my to it. This newest soundtrack it assume in my PC with the 5.1 Monsoon speakers. Thanks a bunch for that.
Anyone know where we can still see the F-27 in North America?
Less sarcasm and more thought equal better understanding
TheLUREnyc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2363 times:
Quoting M404 (Reply 21): Anyone know where we can still see the F-27 in North America?
Sadly, I don't think there is anywhere we can still see the F-27. The last passenger operator, I believe, was Scenic/Eagle out of LAS .. and they seem to have retired the type.
Does FedEx even still fly them or have they all been retired?
What a shame! But lets say what a triumph that plane (all Fairchild versions included!) was to have had such an incredibly long lifespan. Dare I say .. a rival for the DC3?
Corey07850 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2522 posts, RR: 5 Reply 23, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2347 times:
Quoting TheLUREnyc (Reply 22):
Sadly, I don't think there is anywhere we can still see the F-27. The last passenger operator, I believe, was Scenic/Eagle out of LAS .. and they seem to have retired the type.
Nope!
We had this sweet machine in TEB today... In town to do a jump into Yankee Stadium
TheLUREnyc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (6 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2319 times:
Quoting Corey07850 (Reply 23): We had this sweet machine in TEB today... In town to do a jump into Yankee Stadium
Man would that be an incredible thing to watch ! Thats a wild looking plane in the Golden Knights livery. Then thats gotta be the last one flying in the US huh?
Thanks for the scoop!
25 Corey07850: I was talking to the Sgt. and he made it seem like they have more than one
26 TheLUREnyc: Good to know! Kinda weird tho to think that in order to get a ride in one here in the US, you have to be willing to jump out of it inflight LOL! Thos
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From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Anyone have any other favorite noisy vids to share ? 
Actually I don't think I ever heard the sound of a hushkitted version!
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