Scheibe Falke
| SF-25 Falke | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scheibe SF25C | |
| Role | Motor Glider |
| National origin | West Germany |
| Manufacturer | Scheibe Aircraft GmbH |
| First flight | 1963 |
| Number built | 1,200+ by October 1998 |
| Developed from | Scheibe Mu-131 Bergfalke |
The Scheibe SF-25 Falke (English: Falcon) is a German touring motor glider developed from the earlier Bergfalke glider by Scheibe Flugzeugbau. Since May 2006 the business has been run by Scheibe Aircraft GmbH.
[edit] Development
The company had produced the Motor Spatz but decided to produce a better light aircraft based on the Bergfalke glider. It had a new forward fuselage with an enclosed cockpit with two side-by-side seats and originally a Hirth F12A12C engine in the nose. It first flew May 1963 as the SF-25A Motor Falke. After an initial batch of aircraft the wing was lowered and it was renamed just the SF-25B Falke. A number of variants were built with various engines and the type was licenced built Sportavia-Pultzer, Aeronautica Umbra (Italy), Loravia (France) and Slingsby Aviation (United Kingdom). The current model is the SF 25C. It is currently available with a choice of three engines: the Rotax 912 80 hp, the Rotax 912S (100 hp) and the Rotax 914F3 (115 hp).
[edit] Variants
- SF-25A Motor Falke
- First production batch with a Hirth F12A12C engine, 56 built.
- SF-25B Falke
- Improved variant with lower wing position and a 45hp Stark Stamo engine, 372 built.
- SF-25C Falke
- Same as a SF-25B but with an alternator and electric starter. Sub-variants include:
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- Falke 1700
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- 49 kW (65 hp) Limbach 1700 EA 1 IA, driving propeller at 3,450 rpm;
- Falke 2000
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- 60 kW (80 hp) Limbach 2000 EA, driving propeller at 3,450 rpm (about 512 Limbach powered Falkes built by 1998);
- Rotax Falke
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- 60 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912 A running at 5,800 rpm and geared down to 2,500 rpm propeller speed; tricycle gear an option (about 130 Rotax powered Falkes built by 1998).
- Falke 100PS
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- Glider tug.
- SF-25CS Falke
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- A SF-25C with a feathering propeller; feathering was an option with the Falke 1700, 2000, and Rotax Falke.
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- SF-25D Falke
- SF-25B converted with a Limbach 1700A engine.
- SF-25E Super Falke
- A SF-25CS with extended wing, a narrow-chord vertical tail. air brakes and a raised bubble canopy, first flown in 1974.
- SF-25K K-Falke
- A SF-25C with folding wings and large canopy.
- Slinsgby T61 Falke/Slingsby Venture
- Licence built variant of the SF-25B, 76 built
[edit] Specifications (Rotax Falke)
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 7.60 m (24 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 15.30 m (50 ft 2 in)
- Height: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) tailwheel undercarriage
- Wing area: 18.20 m2 (195.9 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 435 kg (959 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 55 L (14.5 UG gal, 12.0 Imp gal) standard
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 512 A flat-4, aircooled with water cooled cylinder heads, 48 kW (65 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph; 100 kn)
- Cruising speed: 180 km/h (110 mph; 97 kn) maximun
- Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn)
- Range: 700 km (435 mi; 378 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,580 m (15,026 ft) (more than)
- Maximum glide ratio: 23-24
- Rate of sink: 1.0 m/s (200 ft/min) minimum
[edit] Notes
- ^ Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999/2000 p.163
[edit] References
- Jackson, Paul (1999). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999-2000. Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group. p. 163. ISBN 01706 1898 0.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1 85310 104 X.
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