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The Aermacchi F-260 is a light aircraft marketed as an aerobatics plane and a military trainer. It was designed by Stelio Frati, originally for Aviamilano, which flew the first prototype of it on July 15 1964. Actual production was undertaken when SIAI Marchetti purchased the design soon thereafter and continued with this firm until the company was bought by Aermacchi in 1997. The military versions are popular with smaller air forces, which can also arm it for use in the close-support role.
The design is a conventional one, featuring a low wing and tricycle undercarriage, and is often praised for its sleek lines and sporty appearance. The pilot and up to two passengers (or pilot and one student in trainer versions) are accommodated under a broad, extensively glazed canopy.
The F-260 holds the airspeed records for aircraft in its class over the 100 km (62 mile) and 1,000 km (621 mile) closed circuits.
The aircraft was marketed in the United States in the late 1960s as the Waco Meteor, although it was in no way connected with the WACO aircraft company.
Variants
Aviamilano
- F.250 - first prototype powered by 187 kW (250 hp) Lycoming O-540-AID
- F.260 - two prototypes powered by 194 kW (260 hp) Lycoming O-540-E4A5
SIAI Marchetti
- SF.260 - production version of the F.260
- SF.260M - militarised version with strengthened airframe and improved aerodynamics
- SF.260W Warrior - military version with weapons hardpoints
- SF-260B - civil version incorporating improvements of the SF-260M. Introduced 1974
- SF-260C - improved version of the SF-260B. Introduced 1977
- SF-260TP - Allison 250-B17D turboprop version of the SF-260C first flown 1980
- SF-260D - SF-260C with uprated engine and other refinements. Introduced 1985
- SF-260E - uprated SF-260D to compete for a USAF contract but later marketed to other military buyers
- SF-260F - as above, with fuel-injected engine
Users
Civil
Out of some 860 SF-260s produced, around 180 have been sold to civil users. Most of these are in private hands, although at least one airline (Sabena) purchased the aircraft as a trainer for airliner pilots.
Military
- Belgian Air Force
- Royal Brunei Air Wing
- Burkino Faso Air Force
- Burma Air Force
- Chad Air Force
- Comores Miltiary Aviation
- Congo Air Force/Zaire Air Force
- Ethopian Air Force
- Haitian Air Force
- Indonesian Air Force
- Irish Air Corps
- Italian Air Force
- Libyan Air Force
- Mauretanian Air Force
- Mexican Air Force
- Nicaragua Air Force
- Philippine Air Force
- Rhosesian Air Force/Air Force of Zimbabwe
- Singapore Air Force
- Somali Aeronautical Corps
- Sri Lanka Air Force
- Royal Thai Air Force
- Tunisian Air Force
- Turkish Air Force
- Ugandan Air Force
- United Arab Emirates Air Force
- Uruguayan Air Force
- Venezuela Air Force
- Zambian Air Force
Specifications (SF-260C)
General Characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: two passengers
- Length: 7.10 m (23 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 8.35 m (27 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 10.1 m² (109 ft²)
- Empty: 755 kg (1,664 lb)
- Loaded: kg ( lb)
- Maximum takeoff: 1,102 kg (2,430 lb)
- Powerplant: 1x Lycoming O-540-E4A5, 195 kW (260 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 347 km/h (215 mph)
- Range: 2,050 km (1,274 miles)
- Service ceiling: 5,790 m (19,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 546 m/min (1,791 ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
- Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)
Related content
Related development:
Comparable aircraft:
Scottish Aviation Bulldog -
Saab Supporter
Designation sequence:
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