SIAI-MARCHETTI SF-260

The SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 is a modern Italian low-wing training and aerobatic aircraft with a landing gear retracted in flight. The drive - in the basic version - is provided by a single Lycoming O-540-E4A5 engine with a capacity of 260 HP. The prototype flight took place in 1964. In the same year, serial production began, which continues to this day with interruptions. As a result, about 900 copies of this machine were created. The SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 was developed by the Italian aircraft constructor Stelio Frati for the Aviamilano plant. However, soon after the flight of the prototype, the rights to it were bought by the SIAI-Marchetti aviation company, which in turn has been part of the Aermacchi concern since 1997. The SF-260 turned out to be a very successful design, relatively cheap to produce and operate, and above all, it was characterized by good aerobatic and flight properties. In the course of long serial production, many versions of these machines were created, including: SF-260A (first production batch), SF-260M (version with improved aerodynamics), SF-260 SW (version intended for coastal patrolling) or SF- 260D (version with a changed power unit and minor design changes). SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 has been purchased by many foreign operators, such as: Belgium, Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey.