VFW-Fokker FK-3
VFW-Fokker · Germany · first flew 1968 · glider
The VFW-Fokker FK-3 was a single-seat competition glider built in Germany in the late 1960s. It was designed by Otto Funk.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Pod-and-boom fuselage with a slender light alloy tail boom |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Shoulder-mounted straight-tapered wing with square tips
- Tall straight-tapered fin and rudder
- Pod-and-boom fuselage with a slender light alloy tail boom
A largely metal pod-and-boom glider with cantilever shoulder wings, a retractable monowheel and a conventional tail with a noticeably tall fin.
Specifications
- The VFW-Fokker FK-3 has a length of 7.2 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.4 m (57 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 270 km/h (168 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built by apprentices at the VFW factory at Speyer and first flew on 24 April 1968. Production began in January 1969.
Variants
One FK-3 was converted in 1969 by Rhein-Flugzeugbau into the RFB Sirius, a motor glider with a ducted fan built into the rear of the pod.
Where you'll see it
The prototype won the 1968 Italian national contest, and two FK-3s finished first and second at the Austrian contest that year. Some sources suggest eleven were built.
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