Fairchild Hiller FH-227
Illustrative image; it may differ from the actual aircraft.The Fairchild Hiller FH-227 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner built by Fairchild Hiller at Hagerstown, Maryland, as a development of the Fokker F27 Friendship, which the company was already producing under licence. Stretched by 1.83 m (6 ft) compared with the F27, it normally carried 44 to 52 passengers on two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops. It first flew in early 1966 and Mohawk Airlines put it into service that summer; Piedmont, Ozark and Northeast also flew it, as did airlines in France and Brazil and several air arms. Seventy-eight were built between 1966 and 1968, in the initial, B and D versions, with C and E conversions. After passing to cargo operators and governments, only one was still in service in 2010, with the Myanmar Air Force.
Specifications
Figures for the FH-227B variant, the most representative of the family
The type first flew in 1966 (60 years ago) · About 78 units built · Production ended in 1968
Figures for the type, not for this particular aircraft: each variant and each configuration changes something. They are shown in both systems used in aviation.
The story of the type
From F-27 to FH-227
Fairchild and Fokker had worked together since the early 1950s, and on 26 April 1956 the American company obtained a licence to build the Fokker F27 Friendship, then still under development in the Netherlands, at Hagerstown, Maryland. Fairchild's F-27, with 40 seats and a built-in airstair, entered service with West Coast Airlines in September 1958, even before the Dutch-built F27s, and 128 were produced. After buying the helicopter maker Hiller in 1964, the new Fairchild Hiller independently developed a stretched version for US regional airlines, almost two years ahead of Fokker's own F27 Mk 500.
A longer F27
The FH-227 added a 1.83 m (6 ft) fuselage plug ahead of the wing, raising typical capacity to between 44 and 52 passengers, with a maximum of 56, and leaving a cargo area between the flight deck and the cabin; it could be recognised by its twelve oval windows on each side, against the F27's ten. It kept the wing and the Rolls-Royce Dart 532-7 turboprops of the F-27J. The prototype flew in early 1966, was certificated by the FAA in June, and in early July the first aircraft was handed over to Mohawk Airlines, which had followed the development with an engineer stationed at the factory. Orders soon reached 46.
In service
The strengthened FH-227B, ordered by Piedmont Airlines in April 1966 with a higher maximum weight and larger-diameter propellers, reached the airline on 15 March 1967. In the United States the type was flown by Mohawk, Piedmont, Ozark, Northeast and, after absorbing it, Delta, as well as Wien Air Alaska; elsewhere by airlines such as France's TAT and Brazil's Paraense and TABA, and by the armed forces of Uruguay, Mexico and Burma (now Myanmar). The Uruguayan Air Force FH-227D that crashed in the Andes on 13 October 1972 made the type known worldwide: the survival of 16 of its occupants for 72 days inspired books and films, from Alive to Society of the Snow.
Production and later years
Fairchild Hiller built 78 FH-227s between 1966 and 1968, with serial numbers 501 to 578 (number 579 was never completed): 33 of the initial version, 37 Bs and 8 convertible passenger-cargo Ds. Many were later brought to other standards, such as the FH-227E, or received a large side cargo door (LCD). The last one built ended its days with the Mexican Navy. Displaced by jets and more modern turboprops, they ended up with cargo operators and governments, and by 2010 only one remained in service, with the Myanmar Air Force.
Variants
The initial version: an F27 stretched by 1.83 m (6 ft), powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 532-7 turboprops of 2,250 hp and with a maximum take-off weight of 19,730 kg (43,500 lb). Thirty-three were built.
A strengthened, heavier version ordered by Piedmont Airlines in April 1966, which put it into service in March 1967: Dart 532-7L engines of 2,300 hp, larger-diameter propellers, a new windscreen and a maximum take-off weight of 20,640 kg (45,500 lb). With 37 built, it was the most numerous version.
An FH-227 fitted with the FH-227B's propellers but keeping the engines and weights of the initial model.
A convertible passenger-cargo version with anti-skid brakes, an intermediate flap setting for take-off and Dart 532-7C or 532-7L engines of 2,300 hp; maximum take-off weight 20,640 kg (45,500 lb). The last eight aircraft built were Ds.
FH-227Cs brought up to D standard, with Dart 532-7L engines and a maximum take-off weight of 19,730 kg (43,500 lb). Six were converted, including the manufacturer's original demonstrator.
Suffix for aircraft with a large cargo door on the left side, such as the FH-227B LCD or FH-227D LCD. Five of the eight Ds were built this way, and many other aircraft were converted late in their careers.
Overview and history adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · technical figures from the manufacturer’s published specifications and standard aviation references
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This page was last updated on October 11, 2026
APA
Vuelopedia. (2026, October 11). Fairchild Hiller FH-227. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://vuelopedia.org/en/model/fh227
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“Fairchild Hiller FH-227.” Vuelopedia, Fundación Poderia, 11 Oct. 2026, vuelopedia.org/en/model/fh227. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
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BibTeX
@misc{vuelopedia_en_model_fh227,
author = {{Vuelopedia}},
title = {{Fairchild Hiller FH-227}},
publisher = {Fundación Poderia},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-11},
url = {https://vuelopedia.org/en/model/fh227},
howpublished = {\url{https://vuelopedia.org/en/model/fh227}},
urldate = {2026-10-16},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16}
}Wikipedia
{{cite web |url=https://vuelopedia.org/en/model/fh227 |title=Fairchild Hiller FH-227 |website=Vuelopedia |publisher=Fundación Poderia |date=2026-10-11 |access-date=2026-10-16 |language=en}}