Scheibe SF 25 Falke
Scheibe · Germany · first flew 1963 · light aircraft
The definitive touring motor glider — a side-by-side two-seater from 1963 that can cruise under power or shut down and soar.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small piston engine and propeller on the nose of a glider airframe
- Side-by-side two-seat cockpit under a broad canopy
- Long straight wings, often with a single small wheel under each tip
A glider silhouette with a propeller: long straight wings, a wide side-by-side canopy, low conventional tailplane and often outrigger wheels near the wingtips. The Grob G109 is a sleeker all-glassfibre equivalent with a T-tail; the Falke looks older, boxier and usually fabric-covered.
Specifications
- The Scheibe SF 25 Falke has a length of 7.6 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.25 m (50 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 190 km/h (118 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 side-by-side.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Scheibe developed the SF 25 Motorfalke from its Bergfalke sailplane, flying the first example in May 1963. Its cheap running costs and dual glider/aeroplane nature made it the world's best-selling touring motor glider, built over decades in many engine and undercarriage combinations.
Variants
Versions run from the SF 25A through the definitive SF 25C Falke (also licence-built by Slingsby as the T61 Venture) to the tricycle-gear SF 25D and later Rotax-powered models. The RAF flew the T61 Venture TX1/TX2 as an Air Cadet trainer.
Where you'll see it
Falkes and Ventures are everywhere in UK sport aviation: BGA and RAF Gliding & Soaring Association clubs use them for motor-glider training, field-landing checks and cross-country practice, and many privately owned examples potter between farm strips. The distinctive putter of a Falke is a familiar airfield sound.
Related aircraft
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