Malmö MFI-9
The Flygindustri Malmö MFI -9 is a two-seat light aircraft of the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Malmö Flygindustri. A further developed version was produced in 1962 at Bölkow under the name Bo 208.
History
The abgestrebte all-metal high-wing monoplane with steerable nose goes back to a development of the Swedish aircraft engineer Björn Andreasson. He designed the Malmö Flygindustri BA -7 in addition to its main activity at Convair in San Diego (USA). The first flight was on 10 October 1958. Upon his return to Sweden, he took over the management of Malmö Flygindustri. This company built an improved version of the SA -7 under the name MFI -9 Junior, the first flight took place on 17 May 1961. The first production aircraft flew on 9 August 1962.
The aircraft is aerobatic and with its adjacent seats and the large, hinged back cover provides a very good all round vision. Thanks to its forgiving flight characteristics it is ideal for training. The aircraft is also capable of towing gliders up to a total weight of 340 kg.
Under the name of MFI -9B, the aircraft was also manufactured to military and civilian training purposes. Five aircraft of this type were (1967-1970) used in the Biafran War in the Air Force of Biafra and armed for this purpose, each with six SNEB unguided rockets. Responsible for the deployment was the Swedish mercenary and experienced fighter pilot Carl Gustaf von Rosen. With the operations of " Biafra Babies" called small - scale including several MiG -17 and Il -28 jet aircraft were destroyed on the ground.
A total of 75 MFI - 9 were prepared in Sweden and the machine for the MFI -15 and MFI -17 later developed, of which up to 1989 more than 300 units were built.
Variants
In addition to the civilian version Flygindustri Malmö Sweden built in the MFI -9B as a coach. From this type of a total of 43 copies were built, of which came five aircraft to the Air Force of Biafra. In addition, for the Swedish Air Force, two prototypes of a military trainers were manufactured, which could contribute to suspension points under the wings rockets and machine guns.
Production at Bölkow
The Bölkow GmbH acquired on July 3, 1961, the license ( worldwide, except for Brazil and the Scandinavian countries ) for the construction of the MFI -9 Junior after Bölkow had seen it on the Air Show in Paris in 1961. Its designers under Hermann Mylius modified MFI 9th So a straight instead of bent nose gear, a new rudder and a modified cabin was built. For this purpose, delivered in January 1962 the prototype of the Malmo MFI -9 to Germany, which was rebuilt accordingly and on 30 March 1962, Klaus Boysen on board had its first flight. This broke when landing five weeks later the nose gear from what the prototype so damaged that you scrapped it. The nose gear also presented in the series machines with bumpy landings still a problem dar. the end of April 1962, two Bo 208A exhibited and presented in flight at the ILA in Hanover, and one of the machines crashed on May 6, 1962. The Type Certificate was issued in November 1962, included the series production. The first series of Bo machine 208A was delivered in February 1963. In April 1963, the version of Bo 208B received with 0.6m wingspan increased their admission as glider tugs. In the following version of Bo 208C cabin and luggage space was enlarged, added the seats, improved the instrument panel, modified the wing in the inner region for a lower land speed and enhanced especially the nose wheel. In the version 208C enlarged tanks were installed on 100 liters. By mid- 1966 208 Junior were produced in Laupheim over 100 Bölkow. The then moderate price (1962 28.000 DM 1968 ready to fly just under 37,000 DM) led to a large distribution. 1969 production in Laupheim and Ottobrunn to 210 units built (64 A / B, 126 C and 20 C-1 ) has been set. Successor at Bölkow was the Bölkow 209 monsoon.
Military user
- 5 specimens were used by the Air Force of Biafra during the Biafrakriegs