Flying back in time with the Fokker aircraft in Western Australia

Fifty five years ago, MacRobertson Miller Airlines, known as MMA, introduced the Fokker F27 Friendship and F28 aircraft to Western Australia.

The initial Fokker fleet had a large impact on aviation in the state, allowing MMA to fly longer distances.

Local Geraldton historian and aviation enthusiast Tony Parasiliti remembered hearing them fly over the town.

"They had the Rolls Royce engines and it was quite a distinctive sound, it was symphonic to me," he said.

"They were graceful in their appearance and sound - it was just a beautiful machine."

The first Fokker Friendship aircraft landed in Geraldton on December 22, 1959.

It was a brand new aircraft and was formally named The Swan by the former Department of Civil Aviation.

"The Fokker that we had here, they used to fly it almost 15 hours a day," explained Tony.

"The Swan was the first one to reach 10,000 hours before it did its overhaul."

If it was a nice day and their schedule permitted, pilots of the MMA Fokker would often alter their route when descending into Geraldton to fly over the old lighthouse.

Its high wings meant passengers had a very clear view of the town from the air.

Co-founder of MMA Horrie Miller was passionate about the Fokker fleet.

"On the day [the F27] arrived, someone said 'oh yuck, she doesn't look as good as the DC3' and Horrie, all he could say was 'I've never seen a low-winged bird'."

The 10 Fokkers MMA flew around the country saw a fair bit of drama in their days.

United States astronaut Wally Schirra travelled to Carnarvon in an F27 in 1966.

"He was an astronaut on the Gemini and Apollo space programs," Tony said.

"And he was the first astronaut to go up to Carnarvon and visit the tracking station there."

A few years earlier, one aircraft caught Beatlemania and flew the famous foursome from Adelaide to Melbourne.

A decade on, in 1972, an Ansett Fokker was hijacked on its way into Alice Springs.

"It was the second or third hijack this country had ever seen," Tony said.

Thankfully, the crew, passengers and aircraft made it through unscathed.

The Swan aircraft carried nearly 2 million passengers in its time flying to and from Geraldton.

MacRobertson Miller Airlines eventually became part of Ansett Australia and the Fokkers were rebranded.

After Ansett collapsed in 2002, the Fokkers were sold off.

Tony said up until June this year, one of the WA Fokker F27 Friendship planes was still being flown with the Peruvian airforce.

- Story and Photo:  http://www.abc.net.au

One of MMA's Fokkers at Perth Airport in July 1969

 (Supplied:Nigel K Daw)