Peter Funk started in 1994 with the development of an Ultralight biplane, which went in production at the end of 1997 as the FK-12 Comet. The FK12 Comet is an ultra-light two-seat aerobatic biplane design using modern materials. It has good flight performance with optimised laminar flow wings with 4 full length ailerons (flaperons) making it highly agile with good viability. The wings fold down in a few minutes giving it a width of only 2.42m for storage.
The FK12 has a max. speed of 220 km/h and engines used are Rotax 912 or 912S of 80-100hp. Price 2009: 46000 EURO
Created by apprentices at the Airbus school at Speyer, the engine is situated behind the pilot and drivs one prop on either side of the fuselage via toothed belts.
Engine: Suzuki Swift, 50 hp Empty weight: 200 kg Wing span: 8.8 m Wing area: 8 sq.m Fuel capacity: 80 lt Certification: vVz MAUW: 450 kg Seats: 2 Max speed: 280 kph Cruise speed: 200 kph Minimum speed: 60 kph Climb rate: 6.5 m/s Fuel consumption: 8.5 lt/hr Price (1998): 75 000 DM Kit price (1998): 33 000 DM
The FK-Leichtflugzeuge FK-10 is a product of B&F Technik Vertriebs GmbH. The FK10 was designed by Otto Funk as a two-seat version of the FK6 and was built in 1994 in the trainee workshop of the MBB Company in Speyer. A Göbler-Hirth 2704 engine powers this fibreglass ultralight. Just one B&F FK10 was built.
The FK-Leichtflugzeuge FK-9 is a product of B&F Technik Vertriebs GmbH. Production of the airframes takes place in Krosno, Poland; assembly of the airframes and the final production of the aircraft in the factory in Speyer in Germany. Introduced in 1989, the FK9 was a combined design of Otto, and his son Peter. The 2-seat FK9 utilized the wing concept of the FK6.
To build the FK9 Peter Funk founded in 1990, together with his partner Dirk Breitkreuz, the company B&F Technik. Production of the FK9 Mk.1 begun in the following year. About 40 MLA’s of FK9 Mk 1 version were built until the airplane was re-designed and replaced in production in 1995 by the FK9 Mk 2 version. The FK9 Mark 2 shares its wings with the microlight motor glider FK3, complete with the complex flap and aileron controls, but uses a welded steel spaceframe fuselage. Both the Rotax 503 and 582 are suitable.
Fk 9 Mark IV
The FK9 Mark 2 shares its wings with the microlight motor glider FK3, complete with the complex flap and aileron controls, but uses a welded steel spaceframe fuselage. Both the Rotax 503 and 582 are suitable.
The FK.9 Mk 3 appearened in 1997. The Mark 3 is a Mark 2 with a composite fuselage. The shell is stressed to take a Rotax 912.
By 2010 the Mk.IV was in production. The Mk.IV can have a factor fitted glider tow hook, and folding wings for storage. They can be registed as LSA.
Fk-Lightplanes is the first manufacturer to offer the Mercedes engine system in a serial aircraft. For this the FK9 Smart was created. This design is not just an FK9 fitted with a Mercedes Smart engine. This concept uses the lightweight FK9 Utility airframe, with more sophisticated paintwork and furnishings than the basic version. The streamlined technology implemented includes practical systems and instruments; superfluous details have been deliberately excluded. Configuration and equipment are serial installations but the plane comes ready to fly. This allows a serial price that is below a similarly equipped Rotax FK9.
FK9 Mark 2 Empty weight: 190 kg Wing span: 9.85 m Wing area: 11.6 sq.m Fuel capacity: 42 lt Certification: Vz Engine: Rotax 503, 50 hp MAUW: 450 kg Seats: 2 Max speed: 180 kph Cruise speed: 165 kph Minimum speed: 65 kph Climb rate: 5 m/s Fuel consumption: 10 lt/hr Price (1998): 57 000 DM
FK 9 Mark 3 Empty weight: 270 kg Wing span: 9.85 m Wing area: 11.6 sq.m Fuel capacity: 42 lt Certification: Vz Engine: Rotax 912, 80 hp MAUW: 450 kg Seats: 2 Max speed: 240 kph Cruise speed: 195 kph Minimum speed: 65 kph Climb rate: 5.50 m/s Fuel consumption: 10.8 lt/hr Price (1998): 86 500 DM
FK 9 Mk IV Engine: Rotax 912 / 912-S Empty weight: 268 kg Max. demonstrated take off weight: 544 kg Demonstrated ultimate loads: +6,1 / -3 g (520kg) Wingspan: 9,85 m Length: 5,85 m Height: 2,15 m (trigearversion) Vstall: 64Km/h Vne: 230 km/h Cruise (75%): 192 km/h / 197 km/h Take off run over 15m obstacle: 220 / 175m Best climb: 1000 / 1500 ft/min at 95km/h
FK 9 Mk IV Utility Stall: 35 kt / 40 mph / 64 kmh Cruise: 106 kt / 122 mph / 197 kmh VNE: 116 kt / 134 mph / 215 kmh Empty Weight: 257 kg / 567 lbs MTOW Weight: 520 kg / 1146 lbs Climb Ratio: 1500 ft/min / 8 m/s Take-off distance (50ft obstacle): 570 ft / 175 m
Ensign Alexander Aleksandrovich Bezobrazov (Russia) wanted to make an airplane that was to stable without a tail and proposed a three-winged tailless tandem. In February 1914, he showed his project to the Italian designer and pilot Francesco Mosca, who did a significant part of the design work. According to Bezobrazov’s original ideas, the engine should have been placed in the middle of the fuselage with a long shaft to a tractor propeller, and the cockpit behind the engine in a closed glazed cabin with a periscope, but Mosca objected and the aircraft was being built with a normal fuselage. The construction was completed by October 1914, a month after the outbreak of hostilities. The first flight by Mosca was successful, but Bezobrazov had already been sent to the front. He was wounded and spent a long time in hospital, while the machine was transferred to Crimea where Mosca continued the tests. On 6 August 1916 the pilot IA Orlov crashed it when trying to take off. Repair was completed by March 1917, but further experiments were suspended.
The Double Eagle Airplane is a “plans built” design powered by the widely available stock VW engine, that will carry 2 people with a useful load around 515 Lbs. It can be built and flown under the Light Sport Aircraft Category. This is a strong and simple airplane designed using traditional and proven aviation tubular steel technology. It is easy to build and there has developed around it a strong core of builders that offer help and support for building the aircraft. There is also a full kit developed by John Bolding in consultation with the designer that makes building this design even faster. The Double Eagle Aircraft is a welded fuselage made of aircraft tubing and represents one of the strongest and lightest 2 place airframes on the market today. The design was originally created as a “super” legal eagle for a heavy friend of Leonard’s. When this friend died before the project was finished, Leonard converted it into an Ultralight Trainer for pilots wanting instruction on flying the Legal Eagle. When the FAA changed the rules creating the LSA category this design was certified as a LSA homebuilt design.
Leonard developed the Double Eagle as his 11th airplane project as an outgrowth of the need to have a trainer for his very popular Legal Eagle Ultralight. The Double Eagle started to form up in 2002 and was first widely seen at the 2003 Oshkosh show. A repeat performance in 2004 broadened its popularity, and many kits started out the door. “DE” was getting special treatment in 2007 because of an invitation that Leonard Received from the EAA to display the Double Eagle at the Air Venture 2007 Air Show. It seems that EAA membership has been asking for an affordable Light Sport Aircraft and most others while fine airplanes tend to run upwards of $50,000. Since the Double Eagle can be certified in this category and costs under 10-12 thousand dollars (even paying retail, and getting some building help), it is very affordable the invite went out. The aircraft is sporting a new Culver prop and has many cosmetic improvements and tweaks in celebration of the event.
Specifications Engine: VW 1835 cc, 60 hp Horsepower range: 60-65 Weight: 385 lb (dry) Height: 6 ft 8 in Wing Span: 28 ft 3 in Gross Weight: 900 lb Wing Cord: 55 inches Useful Load: 515 lb Wing Area: 127 sq. ft. Wing Stress Load: 4 G’s Fuselage: 18 ft Fuel Cap: 14 USG Fuel Cap LSA: 10 USG Take Off distance: 250 ft Landing distance: 350 ft Rate of climb: 500 fpm Stall speed: 35 mph Cruise speed: 70 mph Economy cruise: 55 mph Range: 230 sm Seats: 2 Cockpit width: 48 in
