Photograph:
Australia’s first Falconar F-12 VH-PKQ (c/n F8243) in Western Australia (unknown)
Country of origin:
Canada
Description:
Two / three-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.53 m (28 ft)
- Length: 7.3 m (24 ft)
- Wing area: 13 m² (140 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 241 km/h (150 mph)
- Never exceed speed: 298 km/h (185 mph)
- Stalling speed: 82 km/h (51 mph)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,182 m (17,000 ft)
- Range: 990 km (615 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 98 litres (21.6 Imp gals)
- Take-off roll: 137 m (450 ft)
- Landing roll: 152 m (500 ft)
- Empty weight: 531 kg (1,170 lb)
- Useful load: 224 kg (494 lb)
- Loaded weight: 816 kg (1,860 lb)
History:
The Falconar F-12 series was developed from the F-11 series, which in turn was developed from the Jodel D-11. The F-12 had an enlarged cockpit, simplified fittings and aerodynamic improvements which improved the aircraft’s stall characteristics. It differed from the F-11 in having a new wing design, a folding wing, and the option of a third seat. It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane seating two side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit 112 cm (44 in) wide with a tailwheel undercarriage, with a tricycle undercarriage available as an option.
Construction was of wood, with all flying surfaces covered in fabric. It was supplied in kit form from the manufacturer in Edmonton, Alberta. As an option flaps could be installed on the wing. Engines were usually the 112 kw (150 hp) Lycoming O-320 and the 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360, both being four-cylinder units. Examples have been completed in Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Construction of two F-12s is known to have been commenced in New Zealand. ZK-DBI (c/n F8014/AACA/102/1) was fitted with an 86 kw (115 hp) Lycoming engine with a max weight of 680 kg (1,499 lb) and first registered on 25 November 1975. A second machine was commenced and registration ZK-EEE (c/n AACA 371/1) was reserved but the aircraft was not completed.
Two examples have also been completed in Australia: VH-PKQ (c/n F8243) fitted with a Lycoming O-290 engine, first registered on 15 November 2004 and based at Gunnedah, NSW for a time, and VH-RCK (c/n N.57), at the time described as a Sturgeon F-12, built by Mr R Calthorp of Linwood via Deepwater, NSW, the latter being cancelled from the register in 1987.