The twin-engine Fokker F-27 Friendship was developed in the 1950s by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer to provide a valid successor to the old traditional piston engine Douglas DC-3, which has been in use since World War II. The Fokker F-27 immediately achieved good commercial success in the civilian and military fields and was even manufactured under license in the United States. Thanks to its two 2,250 HP Rolls-Royce turboprop engines, the Fokker was able to reach the top speed of 460 km/h. Since its start of production, it has been adopted by many airlines who found the best solution for short distances. The use of two turboprop engines reduced vibration compared to conventional piston engines and provided improved comfort on board. The aircraft was very versatile and was widely used for cargo transportation activities, troop transport duties and sea patrols.