General Informationen

The SF-260 is one of the most widely used military training aircraft in the world, with 880 planes serving in 27 different countries. It has also been offered as an aerobatic trainer. Stelio Frati (the “F” in SF-260) designed the aircraft in the early 1960s for Aviamilano, and it was later produced by SIAI Marchetti (the “S” in SF-260). The Marchetti is powered by a 260 hp, 6-cylinder Lycoming engine — hence the “260” in its name.

Its flight characteristics and striking appearance are unmistakable, making it a favorite at many military flight schools, as well as among civilian flight schools, airshow pilots, and all who admire this fast, beautiful, and great-flying aircraft.

Features

When CARF was looking for a truly unique model — something you don’t see at every flying field or event — the choice quickly fell on the SF-260, and for many good reasons.

• It’s an outstanding sport aircraft, featuring large wings, a tricycle retractable landing gear, and a spacious cowling that accommodates a wide variety of engines. The external fuel tanks also give it a very distinctive look.
• Thanks to the retractable gear, it has an attractive flight profile and excellent flying characteristics. The landing gear itself is quite simple in design, making it perfect for pilots looking to gain their first experience with scale retracts.
• The wing design, control surfaces, linkages, and overall layout make the SIAI Marchetti SF-260 a fantastic aerobatic platform for performing classic maneuvers. It offers a refreshing change from the usual Extras, Yaks, and EDGEs.
• The SF-260 is also an excellent choice for aero-towing. With a powerful engine, gliders with a takeoff weight of up to 25 kg can be towed with ease.
• Its sleek appearance alone gives the SF-260 a striking presence in the air. It can be flown almost like a jet, yet it also boasts exceptional slow-flight capabilities. CARF Models has chosen just the right airfoil for that.

Another reason for choosing this aircraft was the wide range of beautiful civilian and military paint schemes available — there’s truly something for everyone. Even a fantasy scheme looks great on the SF-260.

Fuselage

The wings are mounted to the fuselage using a 40mm wing joiner tube. The attachment is secured invisibly through the wheel well. The carbon fiber landing gear mount transfers landing forces directly through the joiner tube and into the fuselage. Ailerons and elevators are hinged using the elastic flap method. When the flaps are deployed, a carbon fiber lip covers the gap between the wing and control surface for a clean appearance. The external tanks are connected using a 20mm aluminum tube and can be removed for transport if needed.

Wings

Die Flügel werden auf einem 40mm Steckungsrohr mit dem Rumpf befestigt. Die Verschraubung erfolgt unsichtbar durch den Radkasten. Die CFK Fahrwerksaufnahme führt die entstehenden Kräfte bei der Landung direkt über das Steckungsrohr und den Rumpf ab. Querruder und Höheruder sind als Elastic-Flap angelenkt. Der Spalt bei ausgefahrenen Landeklappen zwischen Flügel und Ruder wird durch eine CFK-Lippe verdeckt. Die Außentanks sind mit einem 20mm Alu-Rohr verbunden und können bei Bedarf zum Transport abgeschraubt werden.

Tail

The rudder and elevator are controlled using the standard CARF method with 3mm threaded rods connected to phenolic control horns. All control horns are already factory-installed and ready for linkage. The rudder is fixed and cannot be removed! However, the elevator halves can be removed as usual for transport. Servo mounts are already glued into the vertical fin and elevator sections, allowing for the direct installation of a quality mid-size servo.

Retract

Since we’ve had great experiences with the Behotec C-50 landing gear mechanisms in many of our models, we chose to use them here as well. Airtech Germany manufactures the main landing gear struts for us. The nose gear strut also comes from Behotec and is the same type we already use in the Tutor and Tucano. However, in the SF-260, the nose gear retracts over 90° to maintain the scale appearance. The servo for nose wheel steering is mounted directly to the gear strut using an aluminum bracket. The set is completed with large Dubro wheels.

Engine Choice

For our first prototype, we chose the Moki 100 four-stroke boxer engine — a wonderful combination..! The Moki may not be the most powerful option, but it’s definitely something special. The sound alone: quiet and smooth. For towing operations, we recommend two-stroke boxer engines up to 120cc. Even older engines, such as the Zenoah 62, fit beautifully under the cowling.

Conclusion

There was no way around it for us — one day, we simply had to build this airplane. Inspired by Ralf Niebergall’s original SIAI Marchetti SF-260, CARF Models took over a half-completed project from the small German company AeroFlug. Most parts were redrawn in CAD, and the wings and tail surfaces were CNC-milled for perfect precision, so it came as no surprise that the maiden flight of our model was a complete success.

The SF-260 is yet another example of CARF Models’ outstanding performance, showcasing its quality from the very first flyby. The completeness of the kit, the detailed structure of the fuselage, and the high level of prefabrication make assembly a breeze. Building it is just as much fun as flying it — whether showing it off at your local field or on any flight day.