Sablatnig SF-4
Sablatnig Flugzeugbau · Germany · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Sablatnig SF-4 was a single-seat German naval floatplane fighter triplane built in 1916, one of only two of the type constructed, intended to improve climb rate over the company's earlier biplane designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin main floats under the lower fuselage, no undercarriage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Compact single-seat seaplane fighter with three narrow equal-chord wings stacked tightly
- Twin main floats under the lower fuselage, no undercarriage
- Single inline Benz engine with a prominent frontal radiator
The three narrow wings arranged in a tight triplane stack are the dominant recognition feature, unusual among German naval floatplanes of the period. The twin floats are mounted relatively close together beneath a fairly broad fuselage. The absence of any wheeled undercarriage and the frontal radiator of the water-cooled Benz distinguish it cleanly from contemporary landplane fighters.
Specifications
- The Sablatnig SF-4 has a length of 8.33 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.25 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 158 km/h (98 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Sablatnig Flugzeugbau of Berlin was primarily known for two-seat reconnaissance floatplanes, but the SF-4 represented a brief foray into single-seat fighter territory. Adopting the triplane configuration in an attempt to boost climb performance and agility, the prototype was delivered to the German Navy in February 1917 for evaluation. It proved uncompetitive against purpose-built fighters and suffered from wing vibration in dives; the programme was abandoned after the single prototype.
Variants
A biplane version with a 12-metre wingspan was also trialled alongside the triplane; neither advanced to production.
Where you'll see it
Operated solely as an evaluation aircraft by the Imperial German Navy in 1917. No operational sorties were recorded and the type was quickly rejected in favour of purpose-built naval fighters.
Related aircraft
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