Bölkow MFI-9 Junior
Bölkow · Sweden · first flew 1958 · light aircraft
The Bölkow MFI-9 Junior (also known as the Malmö MFI-9) is a small Swedish-designed two-seat piston trainer, later licence-built in Germany by Bölkow.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small low-wing two-seat trainer originally designed in Sweden
- Side-by-side cockpit with bubble canopy
- Later developed into the MFI-15 Safari military trainer
Very compact low-wing monoplane with a large bubble canopy, side-by-side seating, and a fixed or retractable undercarriage; the small size and clean lines distinguish it from larger trainers.
Specifications
- The Bölkow MFI-9 Junior has a length of 5.85 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.43 m (24 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Björn Andreasson at Malmö Flygindustri in Sweden and first flown in 1958, the MFI-9 was a neat side-by-side two-seater that found favour as a trainer. Bölkow in Germany acquired production rights and built the type through the 1960s. A militarised armed variant, the Minicon, saw use in the Biafran War.
Variants
The MFI-9 Junior was the civil trainer; the armed MFI-9B Minicon carried light weapons; the design evolved into the larger MFI-15 Safari and MFI-17 Supporter.
Where you'll see it
Used by flying clubs in Sweden, Germany, and elsewhere; the armed Minicon was operated in the Nigerian Civil War and later by several African states.
Related aircraft
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