Originally Posted by
hans brinker
I knew that, but without GPS or FMS we always just thought in IAS... No one would accuse the F50 of looking aerodynamic!! But I am not sure if the design would work at higher speeds, the F50 already flew nose down at it's low Vmo of around 225. Cruising at 250 IAS would require a change in angle of incidence. But maybe a sleeker design would have allowed to cruise at higher altitude getting that higher TAS. I think it got beat by the D8 and the ATR due to its higher empty weight though. 72 seat ATR weighs about the same as a F50, when both empty IIRC.
I think the F50 could cruise up to 270 kts True Air Speed (TAS), so taking into consideration that the F50 was heavy, I think 270 is pretty good. 270 kts is 500 km p/h.
You have to wonder why Fokker made the F50 and indeed the F27 too so heavy. Fokker probably were thinking "built to last, tough, rugged" rather than speed, despite its "reasonable" cruise speed.