Fokker F-70

Twin Jet

The Fokker 70 is a twin-engine regional jet developed by the Dutch manufacturer Fokker in the early 1990s as a shortened, modernized derivative of the Fokker 100. Seating 70-80 passengers, it was designed to replace aging DC-9s and BAC One-Elevens on thin routes while offering jet speed and comfort. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 620-15 turbofans, the F70 entered service in 1994 with Ford Motor Company's corporate fleet, followed by commercial operators including KLM Cityhopper. Despite its efficiency and passenger appeal, only 47 were built before Fokker's bankruptcy in 1996 ended production of the entire Fokker jet family. The type became a niche favorite among regional carriers seeking jet performance on routes too small for mainline equipment, particularly in Australia where it found a second life in the mining charter and regional airline sectors. Its relatively high approach speed of around 128 knots and maximum operating speed of 320 knots IAS or Mach 0.77 made it faster than turboprops but more economical than larger narrowbodies on short sectors. The F70's operational ceiling of 41,000 feet and range of approximately 1,300 nautical miles suited it perfectly for regional trunk routes and fly-in-fly-out mining operations. Today the type remains active primarily in Australia, where operators value its jet cabin comfort, reliable Tay engines, and ability to operate from shorter runways than competing Boeing or Airbus products. SkyMeter has tracked 88 flights across 15 airframes and 2 operators over routes, with ALLIANCE AIRLINES PTY LIMITED the largest observed operator.