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

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

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-Pützer [ de], Fournier [ fr] , and Scheibe), and adding the sum of 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

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.