Sablatnig SF-5
Sablatnig · Germany · first flew 1917 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Sablatnig SF-5 was a German single-engine, two-seat reconnaissance seaplane of the First World War, built for the Imperial German Navy as a higher-powered replacement for the Sablatnig SF-2.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.51 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- World War I German single-engine reconnaissance seaplane
- Two-seat biplane with a 150 hp Benz Bz.III engine
- Close relative of the Sablatnig SF-2, differing mainly in engine
A two-seat single-engine biplane seaplane powered by a 150 hp Benz Bz.III, with a span of about 17 m; it closely resembles the earlier SF-2, which differed mainly in its engine.
Specifications
- The Sablatnig SF-5 has a length of 9.51 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.3 m (57 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first batch was delivered between January and May 1917 as unarmed reconnaissance aircraft with wireless equipment, followed by further batches later that year. LVG and LFG also built the type under licence, and 91 were produced.
Variants
LVG built 20 as trainers without radio and LFG built ten in the BFT category. One SF-5 fitted with wheeled undercarriage became the SF-6 landplane trainer (Idflieg B.I), which was not put into production.
Where you'll see it
SF-5s served widely with seaplane stations on the North Sea and Baltic. Crews disliked the type, calling it the "Lame Crow" for its sluggish banking and climbing, and at least two were captured and used by the Russians.
Related aircraft
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