VFW-Fokker VFW 614

Type (Muster)
Regional jet (Regionalverkehrsflugzeug)

Country (Land)
Germany/Netherlands (Deutschland/Holland)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
VFW-Fokker GmbH
Bremen

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2
Passengers (Passagiere): Standard seating for 40 at 84 cm pitch, four-abreast. Alternative arrangements for 44 seats.
Baggage (Gepäck): Storage space in the front fuselage of 2,25 cu m, plus two underfloor holds with a total of 3,24 cu m.

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Rolls-Royce/Snecma M45H Mk.501 turbofans
Thrust (Schub): 2 x 32,4 kN (7280 lbs)
Fuel consumption (Verbrauch): 1500 l/h total

Take-off noise level (Geräuschpegel beim Start): 90,5 EPNdB
Approach noise level (Anfluglärm): 97,1 EPNdB
Sideline noise level (Geräuschniveau beim Überflug): 92,2 EPNdB

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 20,60 m
Height (Höhe): 7,84 m
Span (Spannweite): 21,50 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 64 sq m
Wing aspect ratio (Flügelstreckung): 7,22

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 11,21 m
Max. cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 2,66 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,92 m
Cabin floor area (Kabinenfläche): 23,11 sq m
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 49,5 cu m

Weights (Massen)
Operating weight empty (Einsatz-Leermasse): 12180 kg
Payload (Zuladung): 5000 kg
Payload with full fuel (Nutzlast bei vollen Tanks):
Max. fuel (Max. Kraftstoff): 6320 litres
Max. zero-fuel weight (Max. Masse ohne Kraftstoff): 17500 kg
Max. ramp weight (Max. Rollmasse): 20050 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 19950 kg
Max. landing weight (Max. Landemasse): 18600 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. level speed cruise (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 735 km/h
Never-exceed speed (Geschwindigkeitslimit): Mach 0.74
Cruise speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit): 700 - 720 km/h at 25000 ft (7620 m)
Long range cruise speed (Langstrecken-Reisegeschwindigkeit):
Stalling speed, flaps down (Überziehgeschwindigkeit mit ausgefahrenen Klappen): 157 km/h
Max. climb rate (Steigrate): 15,75 m/s at sea level (in Meereshöhe)
Initial cruise altitude (Anfangs-Reiseflughöhe):
Max. operating altitude (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 7620 m
Service ceiling, one engine out (Gipfelhöhe mit nur einem Triebwerk): 4625 m (14000 ft) at 18200 kg
FAA take-off field length (Startstrecke): 1325 m
FAA landing field length (Landestrecke): 1100 m
Range (Reichweite):
- 2010 km with maximum fuel
- 1205 km with 40 passengers (3630 kg payload) at Mach 0.63, with reserves

Costs (Kosten)
In 1977, the German Luftwaffe paid 78,6 million DM for its three aircraft.

Customers (Kunden)
Sales of the VFW 614 did never take off. By the beginning of 1977, there were just 16 firm orders:

Touraine Air Transport: 8
Air Alsace: 3
Cimber Air: 2
Luftwaffe: 3 for the Flugbereitschaft

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
Studies for the VFW 614 began in 1961, when Weser Flugzeugbau in Bremen and Hamburger Flugzeugbau pooled their engineering resources for the development of a 36-seat airliner, first labelled ERNO 61-4 (Entwicklungsring Nord). Its main feature was the overwing installationof the engines, to allow easy operation from unprepared runways.
A further merger of Weserflug with Focke-Wulff led to the redesignation of the project as VFW 614 (Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke). In mid 1966, the programme clinched support from the German government, thus enabling real development work to start. Construction of the first prototype got under way on 1 August 1968. A further twist came in 1969, when VFW and Fokker of the Netherlands formed a joint transnational holding company.
The VFW 614 finally rolled out on 5 April 1971 and flew on July 14, 1971. This first prototype (G1, D-BABA) was lost on 1 February 1972 in a crash. A few days before, on 14 January 1972, G2 (D-BABB) had taken to the air, and on 10 October 1972 it was the turn of G3 (D-BABC) to fly. In addition, there were two airframes for static and dynamic fatigue tests. The former was finished in 1973 and the latter in 1975, after 150000 simulated flight cycles.
German LBA certification for the VFW 614 was gained on 23 August 1974, followed by FAA approval on 4. December 1975 and French DGA certification on 5 November 1976.
Manufacture of the aircraft was a collaborative venture, with participation from MBB in Germany, Fokker-VFW in the Netherlands and SABCA and Fairey in Belgium. The first production aircraft flew on 28 April 1975 and entered service with Cimber Air in November of that year. Ten aircraft were in service when production was terminated on 31 December 1977 due to abysmal sales figures.
Most of the VFW 614 in civil service were quickly retired, and during the last years the major user was the Flugbereitschaft der Luftwaffe at Cologne/Bonn airport. Its three aircraft

17+01, series no. G14, built in March 1977 and put in service on 3 May 1977
17+02, series no. G18, built in June 1977 and put in service on 30 June 1977
17+03, series no. G19, built in July 1977 and put in service on 26 August 1977

did amass a total of 39000 take-offs and landings as well as 31500 flight hours until 1998, when they were finally retired (17+01 in March, the other two at the end of September). They are now awaiting sales.
The final two VFW 614s still in use are now stationed with DLR in Braunschweig and Daimler-Benz Aerospace at Bremen for research duties.

Last updated 23 October 1998

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