Sportavia-Pützer SFS 31 Milan

Scheibe Flugzeugbau · Germany · first flew 1969 · light aircraft

The Sportavia-Pützer SFS 31 Milan is a German single-seat self-launching motorglider produced from 1969, combining the wooden fuselage of the Fournier RF-4 touring motor glider with the high-span wings of the Scheibe SF-27 sailplane.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Self-launching motorglider combining Fournier RF-4 fuselage with Scheibe SF-27 wings
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Self-launching motorglider combining Fournier RF-4 fuselage with Scheibe SF-27 wings
Long-span low wing with retractable single mainwheel and fixed tailwheel
Small folding piston engine in the nose for self-launch capability

Distinctive high-aspect wing married to a relatively compact fuselage, with a nose piston engine that can be stopped and the propeller feathered in pure gliding flight; the single mainwheel retracts into the fuselage.

Specifications

The Sportavia-Pützer SFS 31 Milan has a length of 6 m (20 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown on 31 August 1969, the SFS 31 Milan was developed to give sailplane pilots a self-launch capability without sacrificing soaring performance. Fourteen aircraft were built by 1973, finding use among gliding clubs in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Its hybrid parentage gave it a pleasing combination of handling qualities.

Variants

The baseline SFS 31 Milan was the only production version; no significantly altered variants were produced.

Where you'll see it

Used by private owners and gliding clubs in Germany and neighbouring countries; not operated by any military or airline.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.