SIAI-Marchetti SF.260C flown by Dave Tan | EAA Warbirds QR Code Website

History:
The SIAI-Marchetti SF.260M military trainer was introduced in 1970 as an improved model of the original SF.260 designed by Stelio Frati. In the late 1970s an armed version, the SF.260W Warrior was introduced. It had provisions for two strong points to carry rocket or 7.62 mm FN machine gun pods. The C model was a civilian model of the W that rolled off the same production line at Sesto Calende but without the external hard points fitted. The SF.260 is still used as a trainer by the Italian, Belgian, Turkish and Philipine Air Forces.

I first flew the SF.260MS in 1975 during military flight training in the Republic of Singapore Air Force. I was a 20 year old private pilot with 100 hours on 152s and 172s and was immediately spoiled for life! I had to have my own one day, and today in America, I do! 25ME never served in the military. I am the warbird connection. The aircraft can do aerobatics and is easy to fly in formation. I fly solid IFR regularly and have taken her to the Bahamas, Canada, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Belize and Honduras. The 12 inch N numbers are necessary for border crossings and the camo paint lets her fit in with the aircraft of the RedStar Pilot Association with whom I fly with during the warbird airshow at AirVenture.

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Specifications

Registration Number	Date of Manufacture
N25ME	1983
Aircraft Role	Nickname
Primary Trainer
Aircraft Type:	Wingspan:
SIAI Marchetti SF.260C	28 ft
Overall length:	Empty weight:
	1800 lb
Gross weight:	Fuel capacity:
Military: 2866 lb	61 US gal
Oil capacity	Engine type:
12 qt	Lycoming AEIO-540D4A5
Propeller type:	Max Speed
Hartzell 2 blade	Cruise: 170 KTAS
Rate of Climb	Cruise Speed
1500 fpm	165 KTAS
Service Ceiling	Number of Crew
	3
Armament	Bomb Load
Two rocket or gun pods in SF.260W Warrior
Number Built	Number Surviving
800+	Approx 80 in USA