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The Fokker 100 is a Dutch regional airliner designed by the manufacturer Fokker in the 1980s. It is a modernized and enlarged version of the Fokker F28, with the aim of offering a more economical, quieter aircraft capable of carrying approximately 100 passengers for regional flights.
Development began in the early 1980s, and the first flight took place on November 30, 1986. The aircraft entered commercial service in 1988. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce RB.183 Tay engines mounted at the rear of the fuselage and features modernized avionics for the time.
The Fokker 100 enjoyed notable initial success. It was used by KLM Cityhopper, Austrian Airlines, and American Airlines, among others. More than 280 units were produced between 1988 and 1997.
However, despite strong market interest, Fokker encountered serious financial difficulties. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996, leading to the cessation of production of the Fokker 100 in 1997.
Today, although largely retired from fleets in Europe and North America, the Fokker 100 is still operated in some regions of the world, particularly Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia, thanks to its robustness and ability to operate from secondary airports.
The Fokker 100 remains one of the last successes of the Dutch aviation industry before Fokker’s demise as a civil aircraft manufacturer.
In service in France :
The DGA (Directorate General for Armaments) owns a Fokker 100, registration F-ZAFT, which belonged to a subsidiary of the Air France KLM group.
This aircraft, acquired in early 2013, was modified by the DGA to transform it into a flight test aircraft. This operation was carried out in Bordeaux by the company Sabena Technics to meet the requirements of the CEV and the DGA. The aircraft was operational at the end of 1983.
However, starting in 2014, further modifications were made to transform it into a flight test aircraft for various weapons and equipment. To this end, the aircraft received the RBE2 radar from the Rafale (changing the aircraft’s nose from the classic round nose of the Fokker F100 to the pointed nose of the Rafale). External hardpoints were also added to accommodate the equipment.
Specifications :
- Length : 35,53 m
- Width : 28,08 m
- Height : 8,50 m
- Wing surface : 93,5 m²
- Weight (empty) : ~24 100 kg
- Weight (full) : ~45 810 kg
The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 650-15 engines (unit thrust of 61.6 kN), allowing the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of 870 km/h, an altitude of 11,000 m and a range of 2,900 km.
Equipment :
As a flight test aircraft, this aircraft is capable of carrying various weapons in flight under its three hardpoints.
As its central payload, the DGA’s Fokker 100 is equipped with the Thales AEROS Reco-NG pod. This pod has various sensors (including infrared and visible sensors) allowing precise target visualization. This pod is primarily used on this aircraft to track missiles fired by the aircraft during tests.
Under its wing mounts, the aircraft can carry MICA medium-range missiles (EM or IR). These missiles were carried for various flight tests.
The radar used is therefore the RBE2 already present in the game on the Rafale C F3-R, the only difference being that the IRST and the optical sensor are not available. This is particularly visible on the Image because we see the different sensors covered.
In-Game:
In-game, this aircraft would have a unique role, possessing a powerful payload capacity with two Mica missiles but lacking any means of defense, which would likely place it in a particular BR. However, its unique gameplay would make it extremely interesting in-game.
Sources
- Document1
- La Défense présente son nouvel avion d’essais
- La DGA EV débute les essais en vol du radar RBE2 sur son Fokker 100 - Defens’Aero
- Un oiseau étrange capturé à Mérignac: la DGA teste son tout nouveau fokker! - Le Portail des Passionnés d’Aviation
- DGA Essais en vol | Ministère des Armées
- Spot’aero
- Airliners.net