Sportavia-Pützer SFS 31 Milan

The Sportavia-Pützer SFS 31 Milan is a single-seat motor glider that was produced in Germany in the early 1970s.

SFS 31 Milan
Role Motor glider
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Sportavia-Pützer, Scheibe Flugzeugbau
First flight 31 August 1969[1]
Number built 14 by 1973[1]
Developed from Fournier RF-4, Scheibe SF-27

Design and development

The Milan was created by essentially combining the fuselage of the Fournier RF-4 with the wings of the Scheibe SF-27.[2][3][4] The resulting aircraft is a conventional motorglider design, a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a nose-mounted engine.[1][4] The undercarriage consists of a single retractable mainwheel, a fixed tailwheel, and an outrigger under each wing.[1][5] Construction is of wood, skinned in plywood and fabric.[1][5] The designation was created by combining the initials of the manufacturers involved (Sportavia, Fournier, and Scheibe), and adding together the model numbers of the two constituent aircraft designs.[1][4]

The SFS 31 prototype (registered D-KORO) first flew on 31 August 1969[1][4] and soon replaced the RF-4D in production at Sportavia-Pützer.[6] In 1971, Hans Huth piloted an SFS 31 to third place in the German national motorglider competition.[1][7]

Specifications

Data from Taylor 1977, p.560, except as noted

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Length: 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 12.0 m2 (129 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 18.6
  • Airfoil: Wortmann FX-61-184 at root, Wortmann FX-60-126 at tip
  • Empty weight: 310 kg (683 lb)
  • Gross weight: 440 kg (970 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rectimo 4 AR 1200 , 29 kW (39 hp)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 180 km/h (112 mph, 97 kn)
  • Range: 670 km (415 mi, 361 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,700 ft)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 29:1[5]
  • Rate of climb: 3.0 m/s (590 ft/min)

Notes
  1. Taylor 1973, p.560
  2. Taylor 1989, p.838
  3. "Hanover Report", p.720
  4. Hardy 1982, p.172
  5. Hardy 1982, p.173
  6. Simpson 1995, p.378
  7. Ross 1971, p.14
gollark: When they were tested at scale we were pretty sure they wouldn't be particularly harmful.
gollark: I actually don't want multiple things.
gollark: Scientific progress does not generally require subjecting lots of people to your thing for ages.
gollark: If you have to go through 10000 extremely bad systems to get a good one, it may not be worth it.
gollark: 1.5%, actually.

References
  • Hardy, Michael (1982). Gliders & Sailplanes of the World. London: Ian Allan.
  • "Hanover Report". Flight International: 713–22. 30 April 1970. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  • Ross, Peter (1 July 1971). "Soaring to Power". Flight International: 14–15. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  • Simpson, R.W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife.
  • Taylor, John W.R. (1974). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1973–74. London: Jane's Yearbooks.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
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