B&F Fk9

Last updated
Fk9
EDKR Bergfliegen 2012 1907.jpg
B&F FK9
RoleTwo seat ultralight
National origin Germany
Manufacturer B&F Technik Vertriebs GmbH, Speyer
DesignerOtto and Peter Funk
First flightearly 1989
StatusIn production
Number built370+ by end 2008
B&F FK-9 Mk IV floatplane, Miami, june 2011 B&F TECHNIK FK-9 Mk IV.jpg
B&F FK-9 Mk IV floatplane, Miami, june 2011

The B&F Fk9, also marketed as the FK-Lightplanes FK9, is a German-designed single-engine, two-seat ultralight, first flown in 1989. It has been developed from a mixed structure, fabric covered aircraft to a wholly composite machine. It remains in production at factories in Germany and Poland and has sold in large numbers, flying on four continents. [1] [2]

Contents

Design and development

Otto Funk had designed and built gliders and motor glider since 1970 but the Fk9 was both his first commercial product and his first aircraft with design input from his son Peter. Peter Funk and Dirk Breitkreuz set up B&F Technik in 1990 to produce it. [3] The early Marks 1 and 2 were wholly constructed in Krosno, Poland; current models are 85% Polish built, with final assembly in Speyer, Germany. [4] The type is quite often referred to as the Funk Fk9, though not by its makers.

The Fk9 is a conventionally laid out high wing, single-engine ultralight, with side-by-side seating and a fixed undercarriage. The wings have parallel chord and are fitted with ailerons and three-position flaps. They are braced with a single faired strut to the lower fuselage on each side. In the Mark 1 and 2 models, the wings were composite structures with fabric covering; later models have had all-carbon composite wings apart from aluminium control surfaces. There is now the option of an all-carbon fibre wing. [4]

The early Fk9 marks also had a steel tube, fabric covered fuselage, but this has been replaced with an all-glass fibre structure, apart from a steel cabin frame. Access to the dual control cabin, which has overhead transparencies, [5] is via top-hinged doors on each side. The fin and rudder are swept, mostly on the leading edge; the elevators are horn balanced. A tricycle undercarriage is standard, with (usually) spatted mainwheels on spring cantilever legs mounted on the fuselage at the base of the wing struts plus a spatted, steerable nosewheel. The mainwheels have brakes operated by a central hand control. [5] A conventional undercarriage is an option, with the mainwheel legs fuselage-mounted further forward, below the cabin doors, plus a carbon-and-steel tailwheel. [4]

A variety of engines have been fitted. Early models used a 26 kW (35 hp) Rotax 447 or Jabiru, or a (37 kW) 50 hp Rotax 503. [6] The Mark 3 had a 60 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912 UL and the Mark IV offers a choice between this engine, the uprated 73 kW (99 hp) Rotax 912 ULS or a 75 kW (100 hp) Ecofly M160, first used in production Fk9s in the Smart variant. [4]

The design is an accepted Federal Aviation Administration special light-sport aircraft. [7]

Operational history

The Fk9 prototype first flew early in 1989, making its first public appearance that April at the Aero trade fair in Friedrichshafen. By late 2008, before the introduction of the ELA variant, at least 370 Fk9s of all types had been sold. [4] The mid-2010 European registers (excluding Russia) note 387 aircraft, including four ELAs. [8] Other Fk9s fly in North and South America, where there are agencies, as in South Africa. US LSA for kits was given in 2005. [4] UK microlight weight limits exclude the Fk9 as an assembled aircraft, but the recent ELA regulations are expected to allow that version to be registered. [5]

Reviewer Marino Boric described the design in a 2015 review as "an all-composite Cessna 150 lookalike, but with much improved performance". [2]

Variants

Information from [3] [4] [6]

Fk9TG: Mark 2 with tricycle gear.
Fk9 Mark 3 Utility fitted for glider towing FK9 Mk 3 Utility im Queranflug.jpg
Fk9 Mark 3 Utility fitted for glider towing
Mark 38: Marketed in Brazil as Alpha Bravo Fk9. Span 10.33 m.
Mark 3 Utility/Club: For trainer or glider towing roles. New wings. Introduced 2000.
Fk9 Mark IV SW B&F FK 9 MarkIV SW 2.jpg
Fk9 Mark IV SW
Mark IV SW: Short span wing, better downward visibility.
Mark IV Utility: For trainer or glider towing roles. Tricycle or conventional gear options.

Specifications (Mark IV, Rotax 912 UL, tricycle undercarriage)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010/11 [4]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remos GX</span> German ultralight aircraft

The Remos G3 Mirage and Remos GX are German high wing, two seat, single engine light aircraft, built by Remos AG of Pasewalk. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or complete and ready-to-fly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flightstar</span> Type of aircraft

The Flightstar is a large family of single and two-seat, high wing, single engined kit aircraft that was produced by Flightstar Sportplanes of South Woodstock, Connecticut. In 2009 the rights, tooling and parts inventory were sold to Yuneec International of China when Flightstar Sportplanes' business was wound up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coavio DF 2000</span> Type of aircraft

The Coavio DF 2000 is a single-engine, high-wing all-metal ultralight aircraft with side-by-side seating for two. Built in Italy, production began in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ICP Savannah</span> Type of aircraft

The ICP Savannah is a high-wing, single-engine, ultralight with side-by-side seating for two produced in Italy by ICP srl. It has sold in large numbers, particularly in Europe. The Savannah is in production, sold in both kit and ready-to-fly form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B&F Fk12</span> Type of aircraft

The B&F Fk12 Comet, also called the FK-Lightplanes FK12 Comet, is a single-engine, two-seat sports biplane designed in Germany. First flown in 1999, it was available as a kit or complete and ready-to-fly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TL Ultralight Condor</span> Type of aircraft

The TL Ultralight TL-132 Condor and TL-232 Condor Plus are single engine, highwing ultralight aircraft designed and built in the Czech Republic in the mid-1990s. They remain in production in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roko Aero NG4</span> Type of aircraft

The Roko Aero NG4 is a single-engined sport aircraft, available in both light-sport aircraft and ultralight models, which seats two side by side. It is in production in the Czech Republic.

The S-Wing Swing is a high-wing, two-seat, single-engine ultralight/light sport aircraft designed and built in the Czech Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euro-ALA Jet Fox</span> Type of aircraft

The Euro-ALA Jet Fox is an Italian single-engine ultralight aircraft, seating two in side-by-side configuration. Production began in the early 1990s, with 280 sold by 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tecnam P2008</span> Type of aircraft

The Tecnam P2008 is a single-engine, high-wing two-seat aircraft built by Tecnam in Italy but aimed at the US market. It is the first Tecnam aircraft to incorporate major composite components. It was introduced at the AERO Friedrichshafen 2009 show, with first deliveries in December 2009.

The Eurofly FB5 Star Light is a single engine kit built Italian ultralight, seating two side by side. It first flew in the late 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humbert Tétras</span> Type of aircraft

The Humbert Tétras is a French two seat ultralight with a single engine and high wing. Available as a kit or complete aircraft, it has been in production since 1994 by Humbert Aviation of Ramonchamp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameur Altania</span> Type of aircraft

The Ameur Altania was a single-engine light aircraft of pusher configuration with side-by-side seats for two and a V-tail, designed in France in the 1990s. Several prototypes were built and flown, including a 15 m span motorglider version; the final prototype was constructed from carbon composites rather than glass fibre. Another version, the UCA Carbon Bird has been built by Universal Composite Aviation after the bankruptcy of Ameur Aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomark Viper SD4</span> Type of aircraft

The Tomark Viper SD4 is a Slovak single–engine, all-metal, two-seat low wing monoplane with a fixed tricycle undercarriage and side-by-side seating for two people. The aircraft is built by Tomark s.r.o. of Prešov.

The Elitar-202 or Elitar 202 is a conventionally laid out, single engine ultralight aircraft which seats two in side-by-side configuration. Designed in Russia, production of the Type 202 began in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TL Ultralight TL-3000 Sirius</span> Type of aircraft

The TL Ultralight TL-3000 Sirius is a conventional single engine high wing ultralight and Light-sport aircraft seating two side-by-side. It was designed and is produced in the Czech Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jora Jora</span> Type of aircraft

The Jora Jora is a high wing, T-tail, single-engine, two-seat ultralight designed in the Czech Republic in 1993. More than 160 had been sold by 2009.

The MFI BA-12 Sländan is a single seat ultralight of pod and high boom configuration and with a butterfly tail. It was designed and built in Sweden in the 1980s and led to a two-seat, slightly larger, development called the BA-14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just Escapade</span> Type of aircraft

The Just Escapade is a single-engine, high-wing light aircraft, seating two in side-by-side configuration. It was jointly developed in the United States and the United Kingdom in the early 2000s and by 2010 some 145 Escapades and its "bush plane" variant, the Highlander, had been built and many more kits sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviakit Vega</span> Type of aircraft

The Aviakit Véga is an ultralight aircraft seating two in side-by-side configuration. It was designed in France in the late 1990s to be easily constructed by amateurs from kits and was offered with a choice of three engines and of tricycle or conventional undercarriages.

References

  1. ↑ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 50. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. 1 2 Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 52. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN   1368-485X
  3. 1 2 "Fk lightplanes - history". Archived from the original on 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jackson, Paul (2010). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11. Coulsdon, Surrey: IHS Jane's. pp. 227–8. ISBN   978-0-7106-2916-6.
  5. 1 2 3 "SA Fk9 review" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-01-08.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing Ltd. pp. 248–9. ISBN   1-84037-115-3.
  7. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (26 September 2016). "SLSA Make/Model Directory" . Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  8. ↑ Partington, Dave (2010). European registers handbook 2010. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN   978-0-85130-425-0.
  9. ↑ "FK9 Smart engine". Archived from the original on 2016-07-09.
  10. ↑ Ecofly. "The designer". www.ecofly.de. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.