Fournier RF 3

Design and development

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Fournier produced the Volkswagen-powered RF-1 single-seat motor-glider with a high-aspect low-monoplane wing, registered F-WJGX it first flew on 6 July 1960. Fournier followed it with an improved variant, the RF-2 using a Rectimo AR.1200 engine, the first of two-built, with the help of Centre Est, first flew in June 1962.

Fournier started a company Societé Alpavia to manufacture a production variant of the RF-2, named the RF-3. The first RF-3 was exhibited at the June 1963 Paris Air Show. Series production commenced later that year.

An aerobatic variant with a strengthened airframe was produced as the Fournier RF-4.

Variants

RF-1

Prototype Avions Planeur first flown in 1960, one built.

RF-2

Improved variant, first flown in 1962, two built.

RF-3

Production variant first flown in 1963, 89 built by Alpavia at Gap-Tallard.

Specifications (RF-3)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in)

Wingspan: 11.20 m (36 ft 9 in)

Wing area: 11.0 m² (118 sq ft)

Aspect ratio: 11:1

Airfoil: NACA 23015 at root, NACA 23012 at tip

Empty weight: 240 kg (529 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 350 kg (772 lb)

Fuel capacity: 30 l (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal)

Powerplant: 1 × Rectimo air-cooled horizontally-opposed four-cylinder piston engine, 29 kW (39 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 190 km/h (118 mph; 103 kn)

Cruise speed: 160 km/h (99 mph; 86 kn) (econ cruise)

Stall speed: 70 km/h (43 mph; 38 kn)

Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (168 mph; 146 kn)

Range: 500 km (311 mi; 270 nmi)

Service ceiling: 5,800 m (19,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 4.0 m/s (790 ft/min)

Rate of sink: 1.20 m/s (236 ft/min) (engine off)

Take-off run to 15 m (50 ft): 270 m (886 ft)

Landing run from 15 m (50 ft): 230 m (755 ft)