Aermacchi F-260

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/Zimbabwe Air Force
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)