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.
| SF-25 Falke | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scheibe SF 25 B at Schmallenberg-Rennefeld | |
| Role | Motor Glider |
| National origin | West Germany |
| Manufacturer | Scheibe Aircraft GmbH |
| First flight | 1963 |
| Number built | 1,200 by October 1998 |
| Developed from | Scheibe Bergfalke |
Development
editThe 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 F10A2a engine in the nose. It first flew in May 1963 as the SF-25A Motor Falke. After an initial batch of aircraft the wing was lowered and it was renamed as just the SF-25B Falke. A number of variants were built with various engines and the type was licence built by Sportavia-Putzer, Aeronautica Umbra (Italy), Loravia (France) and Slingsby (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).
Variants
edit
- SF-25A Motor Falke
- First production batch with a Hirth F10A2a 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:
- Falke 1700
-
- 49 kW (65 hp) Limbach 1700 EA 1 IA, driving propeller at 3,450 rpm;
- Falke 2000
-
- 60 kW (80 hp) Limbach 2000 EA, driving propeller at 3,450 rpm (about 512 Limbach powered Falkes built by 1998);
- Rotax Falke
-
- (a) 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), or
- (b) 75 kW (100 hp) Rotax 912S at 5,800 rpm and geared down to 2,500 rpm propeller speed, or
- (c) 85 kW (115 hp) Rotax 914F3 at 5,800 rpm and geared down to 2,500 rpm propeller speed with 5 minute time limit; 75 kW (100 hp) continuous.
- Falke 100PS
-
- Glider tug.
- SF-25CS Falke
-
- A SF-25C with a feathering propeller; feathering was an option with the Falke 1700, 2000, and Rotax Falke.
- 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
Operators
edit
Specifications (Rotax Falke)
editGeneral 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)
- Aspect ratio: 13.8
- 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 912 A flat-4, air-cooled with water-cooled cylinder heads, 48 kW (65 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
- Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn) maximum
- Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn)
- Range: 700 km (430 mi, 380 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,580 m (15,030 ft) (more than)
- Maximum glide ratio: 23-24
- Rate of sink: 1.0 m/s (200 ft/min) minimum
Byron Bay gliding club (Australia) have re-engined using a Jabiru 2200. "We get a sound 500 ft/min climb rate measured with a logger and this aircraft will take an honest 190kg pay load with 1 hour of fuel"[3]
Notes
edit- ^ Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999/2000 p.163
- ^ "Home". scheibe-aircraft.de.
- ^ "Jabiru Falke". 30 September 2011.
References
edit
- Jackson, Paul (1999). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999–2000. Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group. p. 163. ISBN 0-71-061898-0.
- 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 1-85310-194-X.
- FLIGHT MANUAL SF25B [1]
- FLIGHT MANUAL SF25C [2]