{{Short description|German touring motor glider, 1963}} <!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = SF-25 Falke | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Scheibe SF 25 B D-KAGR 03.jpg | alt = | caption = Scheibe SF 25 B at [[Schmallenberg]]-Rennefeld | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Motor Glider | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = West Germany | manufacturer = [[Scheibe Flugzeugbau|Scheibe Aircraft GmbH]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1,200+ by October 1998 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1963 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[Scheibe Bergfalke]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}
The '''Scheibe SF-25 Falke''' ({{langx|en|Falcon}}) is a German touring [[motor glider]] developed from the earlier [[Scheibe Bergfalke|Bergfalke]] glider by [[Scheibe Flugzeugbau]]. Since May 2006 the business has been run by [[Scheibe Flugzeugbau|Scheibe Aircraft GmbH]].
==Development== The company had produced the [[Scheibe SF-24 Motorspatz|Motor Spatz]] but decided to produce a better light aircraft based on the [[Scheibe Bergfalke|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 Aviation|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 912|Rotax 912S]] (100 hp) and the [[Rotax 914|Rotax 914F3]] (115 hp).
==Variants== [[File:Scheibe SF 25 A at Anspach 1973.jpg|thumb|300px|Scheibe SF 25 A at Anspach airfield; note the shoulder wing configuration and outrigger wheels]] [[File:Motorseglare - SF25 Motorfalke - Ystad-2020.jpg|thumb|SF25 Motorfalke over [[Ystad]] 2022.]] ;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 L2000|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 912|Rotax 912S]] at 5,800 rpm and geared down to 2,500 rpm propeller speed, or ::::(c) 85 kW (115 hp) [[Rotax 914|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. ;[[Slingsby Falke|Slinsgby T61 Falke/Slingsby Venture]] :Licence built variant of the SF-25B, 76 built
==Operators== ;{{flag|Oman}} *[[Royal Air Force of Oman]]
==Specifications (Rotax Falke)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=<ref name=JAWA99>Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999/2000 p.163</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scheibe-aircraft.de/ |title=Home |website=scheibe-aircraft.de}}</ref> |prime units?=met <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=
|crew=2 |capacity= |length m=7.60 |length note= |span m=15.30 |span note= |height m=1.68 |height note=tailwheel undercarriage |wing area sqm=18.20 |wing area note= |aspect ratio=13.8<!-- sailplanes --> |airfoil= |empty weight kg=435 |empty weight lb= |gross weight kg= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg=650 |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=55 L (14.5 UG gal, 12.0 Imp gal) standard |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotax 912 A |eng1 type=flat-4, air-cooled with water-cooled cylinder heads |eng1 hp=65<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 note= |power original= |more power=
|prop blade number=2<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop name= |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop note=
<!-- Performance --> |perfhide=
|max speed kmh=190 |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=180 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed note=maximum |stall speed kmh=65 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=700 |range note= |endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |ceiling m=4580 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note=(more than) |g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |glide ratio=23-24 |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms=1.0 |sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes --> |sink rate note=minimum |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2=
|power/mass= |thrust/weight=
|more performance= }}
<!-- ==See also== --> {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |see also= |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> }}
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"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.byrongliding.com/technical/jabiru-falke/|title=Jabiru Falke|date=30 September 2011}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== {{commons category|Scheibe SF 25}} * {{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1999–2000|last= Jackson |first= Paul |year=1999|publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon, Surrey|isbn=0-71-061898-0|page=163}} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London }} *{{cite book |last=Simpson |first= R.W.|title= Airlife's General Aviation|year=1991 |publisher= Airlife Publishing|location= England |isbn=1-85310-194-X}} * FLIGHT MANUAL SF25B [http://flytime.hu/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Falke-S25B-Flight-Manual.pdf] * FLIGHT MANUAL SF25C [http://skylinesoaring.org/docs/Archive/Manuals_SF25C.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130082123/https://www.skylinesoaring.org/docs/Archive/Manuals_SF25C.pdf |date=2023-11-30 }}
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[[Category:1960s German civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:Scheibe aircraft|Falke]] [[Category:Motor gliders]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1963]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]