TYPE: Motor glider.
PROGRAMME: Bergfalke sailplane first flew 5 August 1951; motorised as SF-25A Motor Falke; D-KEDO first flew May 1963. Built in several versions, including under licence by Sportavia-Pützer (Germany), Slingsby (UK, as T.61) and Loravia (France).
Current SF 25C version first flew (D-KBIK) in March 1971 and gained its type certificate in September 1972. Falke 1700, with 48.5 kW (65 hp) Limbach 1700 engine, has been discontinued. Falke 2100, with Sauer SS2100 engine, tested 1988 (D-KIAC), but only two others built.
CURRENT VERSIONS: Falke 2000: Limbach L 2000 EA flat-four engine; monowheel landing gear or conventional tailwheel with two mainwheels available.
Rotax Falke: Prototype D-KIAJ flown 1989. Has essentially the same performance as Falke 2000, but is powered by a water-cooled Rotax 912 A or, from 1999, Rotax 912 S flat-four engine; nosewheel landing gear optional. Most production now of this version; some earlier Falkes have been upgraded with Rotax engines. Tricycle landing gear first tested on Falke 2000 D-KBUG in 1987; deliveries from 1990.
Superschlepper: Glider tug version; has max T-O weight of 600 kg (1,323 lb), in this mode. Rotax 912 A or 912 S. Towing trials by D-KIEK in 1998-99.
CUSTOMERS: Total of 1,246 Falkes of all types delivered by October 2002, including 685 SF-25Cs by the parent firm. More than 20 Rotax Falkes used as glider tugs.
COSTS: Falke 2000 with Limbach engine and monowheel landing gear, €90,060; nosewheel landing gear €3,130 extra; Rotax Falke €89,440 with 912 A, €91,380 with 912 S (nose-gear versions respectively €3,150 and €3,110 extra (all prices 2003).
DESIGN FEATURES: Docile aerofoil with moderate aspect ratio, designed for safe and simple handling; aircraft can be easily dismantled and transported by trailer. Mid-mounted wing with taper and slight forward sweep; constant chord tailplane; sweptback fin. Various landing gear and engine options.
FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Door-type wing spoilers at one-third span; upper wing only. Trim tab on starboard aileron; 13 mm (0.5 in) endplates on wing.
STRUCTURE: Steel tube and fabric fuselage; wooden wing and empennage; wing fabric-covered rearwards from one-third chord; fabric-covered elevators and fin.
LANDING GEAR: Standard landing gear is central monowheel, outriggers under wings, and tailwheel; two-wheel main landing gear with steerable tailwheel, and tricycle landing gear (only with Rotax engine), are optional; mainwheels and nosewheel (where fitted) 5.00-4.
POWER PLANT: Rotax Falke: One 59.6 kW (79.9 hp) Rotax 912 A with water-cooled cylinder heads, running at 5,800 rpm and turning the propeller at 2,500 rpm; or a 73.5 kW (98.6 hp) Rotax 912 S running at 5,800 rpm and turning the propeller at 2,380 rpm.
Falke 2000: One 59.7 kW (80 hp) Limbach L 2000 EA driving the propeller at 3,450 rpm.
All engines have electric starter and alternator; propeller feathering optional. Glider tug has MTV-1-A/175-05 constant-speed (for Rotax 912 A) or MT 175R130-2A fixed-pitch (for Rotax 912 S) propeller.
Standard fuel tankage (all versions) is 55 litres (14.5 US gallons; 12.0 Imp gallons); optional fuel tankage 80 litres (21.1 US gallons; 17.6 Imp gallons).
ACCOMMODATION: Side-by-side seating under forward-hinged canopy; optional large cockpit opening. Dual controls standard; instrument panel space for radio.
SYSTEMS: 12 V electrical system.
AVIONICS: Choice of optional Bendix/King or Becker nav/com radios.