Scheibe SF-23 Sperling
The Scheibe SF 23 Sperling is a two-seat, made of mixed fiber engine aircraft, which was developed and produced by the disc - Flugzeugbau GmbH as a utility aircraft.
The SF 23 was a simple conventional high-wing monoplane with wings made of wood and covered with fabric steel tube fuselage. The first specimen (D - Ebin still with 48 kW Continental A65 engine) had on August 8 in 1955 without approval its first flight. Mid-1958 was the approval for the Sparrow granted. It is characterized by its versatile uses. For example, simple aerobatics possible as well as the towing of gliders and banners. Another advantage is the STOL characteristics of Spornradflugzeuges, which, however, a bit of tact the pilot requires, as the " Sparrow " operator errors often acknowledged as " tipping " and " spin ". So two pilots arrived at the camp on 22 February 1959 in Pocking with the D- Ebin for this reason their lives. However, take-offs and landings on short airfields are easily possible. The SF 23 is reminiscent in appearance to the famous Piper Cub, where the pilots sit at 23, however, the SF side by side. Like the Piper Cub is one abgestrebten wing monoplane, in which even the tailplane is braced. The first version of SF 23 A had no flaps and had to be landed by sideslip. Only SF 23 A1 is equipped with flaps, which allows approach speed of about 90 to 110 km / h. The engine was done with the Continental C90, which develops 92 hp and so ensured acceptable flight performance and a payload of at least 260 kg. It was also possible through scaffolding of a Continental or RR O -200A engine, the aircraft in B series ( as of 1960 ), or with a Lycoming O 235 in Series C (from 1961) to convert what the flight performance again improved slightly and provided just in terms of aerobatics and aircraft drag for more power reserves. The price of the machine at that time was about 23,500 DM A total of 30 sparrows, including four in version B and six in the C version, built. In 2010, a few " sparrows " to admire the sky and there was even a copy in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Authority by EMZ SA1426 in the "B" series transferred.
After closure of the development operation, the pattern of care of the DISC AIRCRAFT GMBH was acquired in Heubach, a company of the aviation operation velvet, which was set up specifically to further production of the SF 25 ' Falcon '.