The Scheibe SF-25C Falke is a German side-by-side two-seater motor glider developed from the earlier
Scheibe Bergfalke glider by Scheibe Flugzeugbau GmbH. For the development of a side-by-side two-seater
Touring Motor Glider, Scheibe took the Bergfalke glider and re-engineered it for the installation of a small
engine. It became a new forward fuselage with an enclosed cockpit; two side-by-side seats and a 28 hp Solo
engine in the nose and was flown first in 1962. The Scheibe SF-25 Motor Falke was developed further by replacing
the Solo engine by a Hirth F10A2a engine. It first flew in May 1963 as the SF-25A Motor Falke. After an initial
batch of SF-25A Motor Falke aircraft the next model was the SF-25B Falke, with the wing position lowered;
the wing-span reduced; the under-carriage modified and the engine replaced by a 45 hp Stark 1500 engine.
The SF-25C Falke was a further development of the SF-25B with a 65 hp Limbach 1700A engine and an electric
starter. The prototype SF-25C Falke (c/n 4401) was flown first as D-KMAK. A number of SF-25C Falke sub-variants
were built with various engines and the type was licence built by Sportavia-Putzer, Aeronautica Umbra (Italy),
Loravia (France) and Slingsby (United Kingdom). The SF-25C Falke 1700 Sub-variant is fitted with a 65 hp
Limbach 1700 EA 1 IA engine; the SF-25C Falke 2000 Sub-variant is fitted with an 80 hp Limbach 2000 BA or 2000 EA
engine. Since May 2006 Scheibe Flugzeugbau GmbH is replaced by Scheibe Aircraft GmbH. The current model is the
SF 25C Falke; currently available with a choice of three engines: the 80 hp Rotax 912; the 100 hp Rotax 912S
and the 115 hp Rotax 914F3. Over 1200 SF 25C Falke motor gliders are built so far. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator
for the Scheibe SF-25C Falke is SF25. The Scheibe SF 25 C Falke s/n 44222 was registered D-KDFJ in Germany. On 24
June 2005, the motor glider was seen at Hoogeveen airfield. |