F-27U Triad

The F-27U is a variant of the F-27 turboprop aircraft, which was designed and manufactured by the Dutch aviation company Fokker. It was developed in the late 1940s and was the first post-World War II product of the company. It was meant to replace a spectrum of post-war regional airliners, from the DC-3 to the Dakota. The F-27U was the first version of the F-27, and the only version authorized for military service. It was equipped with more powerful engines and more internal fuel capacity than its civilian predecessor, the F-27A. It also had improved takeoff performance, increased load-carrying capacity, and larger wings for improved flight stability. The F-27U was a key part of the Triad, a group of three aircraft from Fokker that also included the F-27A and the F-27B. Together, these aircraft provided a comprehensive range of air transport, military and freight capabilities in a rapidly growing global market. The F-27U was used extensively by the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air, among many others.