Slingsby T67 Firefly
The RF 6 Sportsman is a sports aircraft of the German manufacturer Sportavia - Pützer GmbH.
History
In 1964, Alfons Pützer in the Eifel mountains, together with the French Société Alpavia and René Fournier the Sportavia - Pützer GmbH, in which the motor glider RF RF 4 and 5 were built in large numbers. Following the success of these two models Fournier and Pützer planned to build an engine aircraft based on a design by Fournier, the RF should be called 6 Sportsman. The first flight of the four- cylinder with a piston engine Lycoming O -235 - E2A with 91 kW equipped prototype ( D- EHYO ) followed on 15 March 1973. Founded in 1974 built second prototype ( D- EASK ) was designed for the towing of gliders and was accordingly equipped with a 110 kW Lycoming O -320- A1B.
Both were presented at the 1974 ILA Hannover, the 2 2 seater design did not meet with interest and the company then to further develop into a true four-seater with the name 6C RF or RF 6-180 decided. For this purpose, compared with the original design of the fuselage was extended and equipped with a larger cabin. The wings were modified and equipped with a new profile. The drive now has the 132 kW Lycoming O -360 - A3A, who had a Verstellpropellerantrieb selected. The first flight of the aircraft ( D- EHYO ) this version was made on 28 April 1976, Klaus Gruber at the wheel. However, the aircraft showed a critical spin behavior, which led to a crash of the aircraft. It came on 16 May 1977, the test pilot Otto Schuler killed. Then the elevator at the next prototype (D - ECSQ ) 5 adopted by the RF was replaced by a cruciform tail. In May 1978, the machine was renamed 180 Sportsman in RS and in June 1978 was admitted.
The machine sold ( also because of the high price of 92,600 DM) only bad and only 20 machines of this type were produced. Better be sold, developed by Fournier twinseater RF 6B - 100, which was powered by a 74 kW Continental O -200 and was sold by the company Avions Fournier. It was sold to 1980 46 machines.
The license rights to the stronger RF 6B -120 with Lycoming O -235 later bought the company Slingsby Aviation, which modified the machine and the wood construction replaced by composite materials. The first flight of the first of nine still built in timber T- 67A on April 16 1981. Thereafter, the machine was built as a T67B from composite materials. Civil version was designated T67C (depending Cockpitcancel as C 1, 2 or 3) and equipped with a more powerful 120 kW Textron Lycoming O 320. The military T- 67M had initially equipped its first flight in December 1982 and served as T- 67M -160 with a 119 kW Textron Lycoming AEIO -320- D1B. The T- 67M Mk2 differed from the first version with additional tanks in the wings and another pulpit. The next variant was the T- 67M -200 -360 - A1EA AEIO was equipped with a 149 kW and had its maiden flight on 16 May 1985. The last variant was the T- 67M -260 was equipped with a 195 kW AEIO -540 in May 1991 and flew for the first time. The supplied to the USAF 113 machines of this type are known in the USAF as T3A Firefly. Overall, the company was able to sell from December 1982 more than 250 pieces in different versions.
Construction
The RF 6 Sportsman is a four-seat low-wing monoplane constructed in timber with nose gear.