A two-place aircraft with an optional third seat for a child, the Falco offers an unbeatable combination of high-speed cross-country travel with complete aerobatic capability. Designed by an Italian, Stelio Frati in 1954, a Falco equipped with an optional Christen inverted fuel and oil system is capable of unlimited inverted flight and the full range of aerobatic maneuvers. Landing gear are fully retractable, activated by a simple mechanical system. Designer Frati has been responsible for such airplanes as the Waco Meteor/SF 260 and the F20 Pegaso.
Designed in 1955 and between 1956 and 1968, 101 Falcos were built as production aircraft.
The initial F.8L Series 1 was produced by Aviamilano (20 built), along with 20 F.8.L series II development.
The F.8,L America was basically similar to the Series II but modified to CAR.Pt.3 requirements.
The F.8L Super Falco Series IV was generally similar to the The F.8,L America but with the 160 hp engine. 20 were built by Laverda.
Now earmarked for homebuilt construction in the United States through Sequoia Aircraft Corp., the Falco is made of wood, except for the firewall forward, the landing gear and the sliding canopy. Fuselage and wing skins are dacron. Power is supplied by either a 150- or 160-hp Lycoming behind a fixed-pitch or constant-speed prop. Gear and flaps are operated electrically.
Two examples of the Aviamilano F.8 Falco appeared in Britain during 1960.
On 25 April 1965, the first, I-TRIP, of ten F.8 Super Falco under construction by Vietri first flew.
The Falco has been produced in kit form since 1974.
Price 1982: $24,000 (Excludes engine and propeller). Units delivered to June 1981: 80.
Kit price 2008: US$108,440
F.8L Series 1
Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2B, 135 hp
F.8L Series II
Engine: Lycoming O-320-A, 150 hp
F.8,L America
F.8L Super Falco Series IV
Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B, 160-hp
Wingspan: 26’3” / 8.00 m
Length: 21 ‘4” / 6.50 m
Wing area: 107.5 sq.ft
Empty Wt: 1212 lb / 550 kg
Gross Wt: 1808 lb / 820 kg
Fuel capacity 40 USG
Full fuel payload: 434 lb
Top speed: 212 mph
Cruise 75%: 190 mph / 165 kt
Max cruise 5000ft / 1525m: 156 kt / 180 mph / 290 kph
Stall clean: 75 mph / 65 kt
Stall landing config: 62 mph / 54 kt
ROC SL fixed pitch prop: 984 fpm / 300 m/min
Service ceiling: 19,700 ft / 6000 m
Takeoff dist: 570 ft
Takeoff run: (50’) 1150 ft
Landing dist: 750 ft
Landing roll: (50’) 1150 ft
Range: 870 sm / 755 nm / 1400 km
Cabin length: 4 ft 7 in / 1.40 m
Cabin width: 3 ft 5 in / 1.05 m
Cabin height: 3 ft 4 in / 1.02 m
Baggage capacity: 90 lb / 40 kg
Seats: 2
Engine: Lycoming IO-360
Wing span: 8 m
Wing area: 9.89 sq.m
MAUW: 853 kg
Empty weight: 550 kg
Fuel capacity: 151 lt
Max speed: 344 kph
Cruise speed: 319 kph
Minimum speed: 100 kph
Climb rate: 7.5 m/s
Seats: 2
Fuel consumption: 36 lt/hr
Plan price (1998): $400
Kit price (1998): $70,000
All Aero 