Scheibe SF 23 Sperling

Development

The Sperling was the first design of powered aircraft to come from the Scheibe Flugzeugbau company which had started building gliders in 1951. The prototype first flew on 8 August 1955 and the initial production SF-23A aircraft first flew in September 1958.

The Sperling is a high-wing braced monoplane with side-by-side seating for two in an enclosed cabin. It had a fixed tailwheel landing gear and was initially powered by a 95 hp (71 kW) Continental C90 piston engine. The Sperling utilizes mixed construction, the fuselage being a fabric-covered steel-tube structure and the wings being single-spar wooden structures with fabric and plywood covering. Production of the Sperling was completed in 1963.

Operation

Most aircraft produced were sold to German private pilots and flying clubs but one was purchased by a British owner. The higher powered versions were suitable for use in glider-towing. By 2009, seven examples remained in active operation in Germany.

Variants

SF-23A

Production variant with a 95 hp (71 kW) Continental C90-12F engine, 17 built.

SF-23B

Production variant with a 100 hp (75 kW) Continental O-200-B engine, four built.

SF-23C

Production variant with a 115 hp (86 kW) Lycoming O-235 engine, six built.

Specifications (SF-23A)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 2

Length: 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in)

Wingspan: 9.87 m (32 ft 5 in)

Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)

Wing area: 12.16 m² (130.9 sq ft)

Powerplant: 1 × Continental C90-12F piston engine, 67 kW (90 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 175 km/h (109 mph; 94 kn) VNO

Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph; 135 kn)