Under The Microscope: Aermacchi SF-260

What is an SF-260?

Philippine Air Force SF-260 trainer planes, courtesy of Inquirer.net

Overview: The SF-260 is a fully aerobatic, two seat side-by-side, propeller driven primary trainer aircraft that is widely used to train student pilots (1, 4). According to Aermacchi, the aircraft's manufacturer, "With the SF-260, student pilots can achieve the skill levels required for a smooth transition to higher performance basic trainers. This minimizes the costs incurred when student pilots are washed out later in the training process."

Inventory: 45 operational as of September 2011, 21 in storage (1, 2, 3).

Cost: PhP34.59M (2011) (2).

Specifications (4):

Dimensions
span­	8.35 m­	27.4 ft
length	7.10 m (TP version: ­7.40 m)	23.3 ft (24.3 ft)­
height	2.68 m (TP version: 2.41 m)	8.8 ft (8,41 ft)
wing area	10.10 sqm	108.7 ­sqft
Weights
empty	840 kg (TP version: 820 kg)	1,850 lb (1,805 lb)
max T.O. (aerobatic)	1,200 kg	2,645 lb
max T.O. (utility)	1,300 kg	2,865 lb
max T.O. (armed)	1,350 kg	2,975 lb
Power Plant
Textron Lycoming (piston, 6 cylinders)	AEIO-540 D4A5­
Power, SLS, ISA	260 HP (TP version: 350 HP - flat-rated from 420 HP­)
Propeller (Hartrell)	2 blades AHC-C2YK-1 BF/F8477-8R (TP version: 3 blades HC-B3TF-7A/T101 73-25R)­­
Performance (clean, ISA, 1100 kg/2425 lb)
Max level speed (sea level)	182 KTAS (TP version: 10,000 ft 228 KTAS)
Cruise speed (6000 ft, 75% power)	175 KTAS (TP version: 215 KTAS 10,000 ft)
Never exceed speed	236 KEAS
Rate of climb (SL)	1,800 ft/min (TP version: 2,200 ft/min)
Stall speed (full flaps)	59 KCAS (TP version: 61 KCAS)
Service ceiling	20,000 ft (TP version: 25,000 ft)
Range clean (10% reserve)	TP version: 510­ nm
Range clean / 2 ext. tanks (10% reserve)	710 / 1090 nm (TP version: 840­ nm)
Takeoff ground run	275 m	900 ft
Landing ground run	270 m (TP version: 390 m)	885 ft (1280 ft)­
Limit Load factor	+6 / -3 g
Max Load Factor, Utility	TP version: +4.4/-1.76g

Sources:
(1) SF-260 Production List
(2) Philippines SF-260
(3) 18 SF-260 Delivered
(4)  SF-260 Specifications