Photograph:
Scheibe SF-24B D-KABE in Germany (Author’s collection)
Country of origin:
Germany
Description:
Single-seat motorised glider
Power Plant:
One 19 kw (26 hp) Hirth F-102A two-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 14 m (45 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 11.87 m² (127.1 sq ft)
- Rate of sink at 80 km/h (50 mph): 61 m/min (200 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 29.21 kg/m² (5.98 lb/sq ft)
- Empty weight: 225 kg (496 lb)
- Payload: 120 kg (265 lb)
- Loaded weight: 345 kg (761 lb)
History:
The SF-24 Motorspatz is a single-seat self-launched high-wing glider developed and built in Germany for training purposes. Scheibe over the years has developed a number of gliders, a few of which have been motorised. The SF-24 Motorspatz was designed by Egon Scheibe of Scheibe Flugzeugbau. About 50 SF-24s were constructed, the first aircraft being produced in 1960. Power was supplied by a Hirth engine. The glider was derived from the unpowered Scheibe Spatz. It was described by Soaring Magazine as “one of the more primitive of the breed of self launching sailplanes.”
The aircraft was of welded steel-tube fuselage with a monowheel undercarriage, and a small tailwheel for ground manoeuvring. The wings and tail were built of wood and covered with fabric. Examples survive in Europe and two were operated in the United States in 2011 in the Experimental – Exhibition category. Another was registered in the Experimental – Research and Development category. At least one example has been registered in this region. This aircraft, an SF-24B, was imported from the United States, became ZK-GNY in May 1984 (c/n 4034 – ex ZK-EHA, N4034, D-KICH), has been owned by Colin Mackay of Grafton and has been based in the Auckland area.