Aermacchi SF-260
| Alenia Aermacchi SF-260 | |
|---|---|
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| Type: | Training aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
July 15, 1964 |
| Commissioning: |
April 1966 (FAA certification) |
| Production time: |
1966 until today |
| Number of pieces: |
870+ (2005) |
The Alenia Aermacchi SF-260 (until January 1997: SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 ) is an Italian single-engine light aircraft that is used as an aerobatic machine and military training aircraft. It was originally designed by Stelio Frati for Aviamilano .
history
In the early 1960s, the Italian aircraft designer Stelio Frati began work on a new three-seat design for an aerobatic sport and touring aircraft. In addition to aerobatics, it should also have flight characteristics that were similar to the combat aircraft of the time, in order to be able to be used as a trainer for military pilots. The concept drew heavily on Frati's previous projects, including the jet-powered Caproni Trento F-5 trainer prototype and the two-seat aerobatic aircraft Aviamilano Falco . The S.260 shares the wing profile and parts of the structural design with the latter. The planned aircraft, which was originally referred to as the F.250 due to the performance of its engine, was Frati's first all-metal aircraft.
Aviamilano made the first flight on July 15, 1964. SIAI-Marchetti then bought the design documents and started series production under its own name. Soon after the start of production, the SF.260 enjoyed great demand from military customers, as it could be used flexibly as a military trainer or, with external load connections, as a light ground attack aircraft . This led to the fact that between 1964 and 1984 the majority of customers were the air forces of various countries and because of the related production capacity, only a few private pilots had the opportunity to purchase the aircraft. In 1997 SIAI-Marchetti was taken over by Aermacchi and in 2017 by Leonardo , who continued production. In the USA the aircraft was sold under the name Waco Meteor , but had nothing to do with the Waco company . The SF-260 is still used today as a military trainer, as a basic trainer for instrument flight and for aerobatic training. In the USA she is also a popular air combat fighter.
construction
The SF.260 was developed as a cantilever low- wing aircraft with retractable nose wheel landing gear . The aircraft is aesthetically very successful due to its sporty, slim and harmonious lines, but its properties are functional and handling is similar to a jet. The construction was designed to be robust and of high quality with a view to military use. Countersunk rivets were mostly used on the outer surfaces to reduce air resistance. The SF.260 has a compact structure, and the center of gravity and weight distribution is similar to that of a jet. The machine is fully suitable for aerobatics and is approved for loads of up to 6 g or −4 g . Compared to conventional single-engine aircraft with piston engines, the SF.260 has an above-average power -to- weight ratio . Because of the small wing area, the wing loading is comparatively high.
The original variants of the SF.260 were powered by a Lycoming O-540 with 260 hp. The standard models have a conventional carburetor , while later models are equipped with an injector . The motorization allows the SF.260 excellent flight performance with a high rate of climb and top speed, but is considered relatively insensitive to gyroscopic effects despite the powerful motor and the large propeller diameter . In an article published in Flying magazine in 1986 , the SF.260 was described as "the fastest single-engine piston-engine aircraft in production on the market". The SF-260 still holds (as of March 2020) the speed records of over 100 kilometers and a 1000-kilometer circuit in its class.
The SF.260 offers space for a pilot and up to two passengers (or a pilot and a student in the trainer versions), for whom the generously glazed cockpit offers good visibility. Unlike most aircraft, the pilot usually sits on the right-hand side of the cockpit, as military pilots are trained to operate the joystick with their right hand and the left-hand quadrant for engine control in the jet.
As a fully aerobatic aircraft, the SF.260 has precise and responsive controls around all three axes. The handling is considered pleasant and balanced, in particular, the behavior is at stall described as good-natured. The latter is achieved by small guide vanes attached to the inside of the tip tanks, which accelerate the air flow over the wing ends and divert it so that the ailerons can be steered even in the event of a stall. A relatively low maximum speed for operating the chassis is the only major criticism of the model. The SF.260 has space for up to three people and has a flight time of up to four hours with a full tank. For the safe performance of aerobatics, the SF.260 may be manned by a maximum of two people, and the tip tanks may only contain small amounts of AvGas , which limits the flight time for aerobatics to 1.5 hours.
variants
The first model, the SF.260A, went into production in 1967 and was soon replaced by the SF.260B with only minor changes. The military variant SF.260W Warrior had its maiden flight in May 1972.
In 1977 an improved variant, called SF.260C, replaced the previous production variants. This model has numerous improvements, including redesigned tabs on the ailerons, a reinforced wing, a new wing profile for improved handling at low speeds, and enlarged rudders and elevators. The SF.260C was developed in particular to better meet military requirements and specifications through a more stable construction. The only structural difference between the civilian SF.260C and its armed variant, the SF.260W Warrior, is the installation of external load stations for attaching additional equipment or armament.
In 1980 the SF.260TP turboprop made its first flight, powered by an Allison 250-B17D with an output of 350 hp. This variant was specially developed for the military trainer market. In August 1986 the SF.260TP was approved according to the FAR-Part-23 requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and can therefore also be acquired and used by civil pilots.
In 1985 the SF.260D appeared, which was equipped with an injection engine as standard and instead of the manual one with an automated tank system.
In 2005 the Italian Air Force received a batch of 30 SF.260EA with an order value of EUR 33 million. The SF.260EA model was developed to meet the requirements of the Italian Air Force for modern piston engine aircraft and has been used ever since for pilot selection and subsequent basic training for military pilots.
Aviamilano
- F.250 - first prototype 187 kW (250 PS) Lycoming O-540 -AID
- F.260 - second prototype 194 kW (260 hp) Lycoming O-540-E4A5
SIAI Marchetti
- SF.260 : Production version of the F.260
- SF.260M : military version with improved aerodynamics
- SF.260W Warrior : military version with armament
- SF-260B : civil version of the SF-260M (1974)
- SF-260C : civil version of the SF-260B (1977)
- SF-260TP : Turboprop version of the SF-260C with Allison 250-B17D (1980)
- SF-260D : SF-260C with improvements (1985)
- SF-260E : Enhanced SF-260D for the USAF tender and other air forces
- SF-260F : SF-260E with direct fuel injection
Alenia Aermacchi
- SF-260EA : current version with Lycoming AEIO-540
- SF-260TD : current version with Rolls-Royce Model 250 turboprop (350 PS)
user
Civil version
More than 870 SF-260s were produced, around 180 of which were civil versions. Most of the civil aircraft are privately owned, some are used as training aircraft by the Belgian airline Sabena . Likewise, some SF.260W from military stocks have recently been demilitarized and civilly approved.
Military users
Burkina Faso
The Escadrille de Chasse (EdC - Fighting Squadron) in the Force Aérienne de Burkina Faso (FABF - Burkina Faso Air Force ) operates SF.260 with registration numbers BF-8421 (s / n 049), BF-8424 (s / n 254 ), BF-8431 (s / n 116), BF-8451 (s / n 206), BF-8477 (s / n 134) and BF-8479 (s / n 136); these Warrior variants were purchased in 1986 from the Philippines via Belgium , and were supplemented by four more new aircraft that were delivered directly from Italy. In the same year, these aircraft were used in the war for the Agach Strip against Mali .
Libya
Libya is one of the largest operators of the SF.260 with a total of around 240 units, the final assembly of which was partially carried out in a factory near Tripoli. How many SF.260WL are in use in Libya is not exactly certain. Deliveries began in 1977 or 1978, but due to a US embargo there were problems with equipping the aircraft intended for Libya with the planned avionics from US manufacturers. French instruments were used as a replacement, but this led to certain delivery delays.
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It was originally intended to use the SF.260WL at the Libyan Air Force Academy only for pilot training, but the machines were also used to provide ground combat support for ground troops in border conflicts with Chad. The Libyan government was providing arms to friendly states, and some SF.260WL were given to the air forces of Burkina Faso, Burundi, Nicaragua, Uganda and possibly other states.
In 2007 and 2008, Alenia Aermacchi and Tripoli-based Libyan-Italian Advanced Technology carried out a complete overhaul of 12 Libyan SF.260WLs that affected all systems including cells, motors and propellers.
During the civil war in Libya in 2011 , on May 7, 2011, several SF.260WL were involved in the successful bombing of fuel depots in the rebel-held Misrata . The NATO failed to intercept the attacking aircraft, even if it is pre-established in a two-month no-fly zone were.
Currently (as of 2013), SF.260WL are still active with the new Libyan air force and are used for patrol flights and for attacks against smugglers in the southern border area.
Philippines
In the early 1970s, 48 SF.260s (32 SF.260M; 16 SF.260W) were ordered for the Philippine Air Force. The first six were delivered to the 100th Training Wing at Fernando Air Base in May 1973 and replaced the Beech T-34A Mentor stationed there.
The 15th Strike Wing at Sangley Point Air Force Base received its SF.260W Warrior as a complement to the North American T-28 Trojans there. These machines may have been used in combat missions against rebels in the southern Philippines, but information about them is not considered certain. In 1980 the remaining warriors were demilitarized and transferred to Fernando Air Base for pure pilot training.
On December 31, 1991, the Philippine Air Force signed an order for the delivery of 18 SF.260TP turboprops to replace older SF.260M / W in pilot training. The first of these SF.260TP was registered in the Philippines on July 1, 1993.
Under the project name "Project Layang", the Philippine Air Force planned to upgrade 18 SF.260M / W to the SF.260TP standard by replacing the installed Lycoming piston engines with Turboprops Allison 250-B17D. The instrumentation has also been modernized. The first modernized SF.260TP entered service in 1996.
A further 18 new SF.260Fs had been delivered by April 2011, the final assembly of which was carried out at Aerotech Industries Philippines.
Six Warriors were sold to Burkina Faso via Belgium in 1986.
Chad
During the conflict with Libya in the 1980s, Chad informed the United Nations that eight Libyan Air Force SF.260WL had been destroyed and nine more captured during combat operations. At least six of the former Libyan SF.260WL were then used in the Chad Air Force. It is possible that some of the machines were sold to other countries, some allegedly even appeared in the US civil market. In 1988, four SF.260WLs were still operational, two of which were overhauled in France a year later. In 2006, during the conflict between Chad and Sudan over Darfur , Libya made four additional SF.260s and crews available to Chad. One of these machines was shot down by rebels when it was first used, killing the crew.
Other countries
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Abu Dhabi
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Ethiopia : Ethiopian Air Force
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Belgium : Belgian air component
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Brunei : Royal Brunei Air Wing
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Burkina Faso
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Burundi
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Haiti
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Indonesia : Indonesian Air Force
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Ireland : Irish Air Corps
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Italy : Aeronautica Militare
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Comoros
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Libya
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Morocco
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Mauritania : Air Force
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Mexico : Mexican Air Force
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Myanmar
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Nicaragua
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Philippines
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Zambia
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Zimbabwe : Air Force of Zimbabwe
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Singapore : Republic of Singapore Air Force
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Somalia
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Sri Lanka
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Thailand : Royal Thai Air Force
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Chad
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Tunisia
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Turkey : Turkish Air Force
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Uganda
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Uruguay : Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya
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Venezuela
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Zaire
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Specifications (SF-260C)
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 2 |
| length | 7.10 m |
| span | 8.35 m |
| height | 2.41 m |
| Wing area | 10.1 m² |
| Empty mass | 755 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 1200 kg |
| Rate of climb | 546 m / min |
| Top speed | 347 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 5790 m |
| Range | 2050 km |
| Engines | 1 × Lycoming O-540-E4A5, 195 kW (260 PS) |
Trivia
In the James Bond film Quantum of Solace , an SF-260TP makes an appearance in a dogfight with a Douglas DC-3 flown by James Bond .
See also
literature
- Nigel Moll: SIAI-Marchetti SF.260. In: Flying, October 1984. Vol. 111, no. 10. pp. 66-73.
- Nigel Moll: SIAI-Marchetti SF.260TP: Turboprop Tempo. In: Flying, April 1988. Vol. 115, no. 4. pp. 56-60.
- Franco Storaro: Siai Marchetti S-208M SF-260. Testo inglese a fronte. Paperback, 2016, ISBN 978-8875652746
- Massimo Dominelli: SIAI Marchetti SF-260: la Ferrari dei Cieli. Wings and History - Volume 1, LpB Editore, 2017, ISBN 978-88-942225-3-1
Web links
- EASA type certification F260 (TCDS) (PDF; 130 kB)
- Comprehensive production list SF-260
- SF-260 in the aircraft lexicon
- Image documentation of the SF-260
Individual evidence
- ↑ Mondey 1981, p. 229.
- ↑ Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003-2004, p. 276
- ↑ Moll October 1984, pp. 66, 73.
- ↑ a b c minor October 1984, p. 73.
- ↑ a b Moll October 1984, pp. 68-69.
- ↑ "The Great Race" Flying Magazine May 1986, p. 53.
- ↑ Moll October 1984, pp. 68, 70.
- ↑ Moll October 1984, pp. 70-72.
- ↑ Moll October 1984, p. 72.
- ↑ Moll October 1984, p. 70.
- ↑ Airdata File . In: AIR Enthusiast September 1972, p. 157.
- ↑ a b c minor October 1984, p. 68.
- ^ Moll April 1988, p. 57.
- ↑ a b Archived copy . Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ↑ Harro Ranter: ASN Aircraft incident 23-FEB-2011 SIAI-Marchetti SF.260ML 5A-DME . Retrieved August 2, 2015.
- ↑ a b SF.260 in military service . SIAI Marchetti aircraft. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ↑ Lewis, Paul. "Philippine air force re-engines SF.260." Flight International , August 28, 1996.
- ↑ PAF boosts capability, ready for modernization . Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
- ↑ Cooper, Tom. "Burkina Faso and Mali, Agacher Strip War, 1985." Western & Northern Africa Database. July 31, 2004.
- ↑ "Chadian aircraft downed." Taoeil Times, November 30, 2006.