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The B & F FK9 is a product of Bücker & Funk Technik Vertriebs GmbH. By origin, production of the airframes took place in Krosno,
Poland; assembly of the airframes and the final production of the aircraft in the factory in Speyer in Germany. In 2010, the structure of
the company was changed and the tradingname changed into FK-Lightplanes. FK-Lightplanes is a compound of two companies namely FK-Lightplanes
Poland & FK-Lightplanes Germany (B&F Technik Vertriebs GmbH). FK-Lightplanes Poland is the head office and is responsible for the sales,
marketing & production of the B&F designed FK aircraft range. FK-Lightplanes Germany (B&F Technik Vertriebs GmbH) handles product
development, main engineering and certification of the aircraft, as well as after sales and customer service. The base of the company was laid
by Otto Funk (=FK) who in 1959 designed on behalf of Heinkel in Speyer the complete metal glider Greif 1a (FK1). In 1984, Otto Funk started
with the development of a light aircraft: the FK6. With this design the UL-market was entered. The break-through on this market was the
introduction of the FK9 in 1989. The FK9 was a combined design of Otto and his son Peter. The 2-seat FK9 utilized the wing concept of the FK6.
To build the FK9 Peter Funk founded in 1990 together with his partner Dirk Breitkreuz the company B&F Technik. Production of the FK9 Mk1 begun
in the following year. About 40 MLA's of FK9 Mk 1 version were built until the airplane was re-designed and replaced in production in 1995 by the FK9
Mk 2 version. The FK9 Mk 2 version was further developed to achieve higher cruising speeds and a greater flight comfort. This FK9 Mk 3 version, a plane
made entirely of composites entered production at the end of 1996. Although this machine still featured many of the Mk2 characteristics, the differences
were nevertheless so significant that parallel production of both types proved necessary. In 2000 the FK Mk3 Utility a further development of the Mk3,
designed specifically for professional duty, entered production. This version incorporated the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer of the Mk3, but had
newly-designed wings and a higher payload factor. In 2003, the FK9 Mark IV with a larger cabin, more effective flaps and a bigger tailplane, was
introduced and replaced the Mark III in production. This model can be equipped with a hook for towing gliders. It is offered with floats and skis.
In 2009, the FK9 ELA was introduced, this model is a improved FK9 Mark IV to fit the European Light Aircraft catagory. Today, the B & F Techniek
Vertriebs GmbH 'FK-Aircraft' is owned by the WENFA Aerospace group, Wuhan, China. Over 500 FK9 aircraft are built. |
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