Fournier RF-3

Fournier RF-3
Belgian-registered RF-3 in 2012
Role motor glider
National origin France
Manufacturer Societé Alpavia
First flight 1963 (RF-3)
Number built 1 (RF-1)
2 (RF-2)
89 (RF-3)
Variants Fournier RF-4

The Fournier RF-3 is a single-seat motor glider designed by René Fournier and first flown in 1960.

Design and development

A 1964-built RF-3 attending the 2013 LAA Rally at Sywell Aerodrome

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Fournier produced the Volkswagen-powered RF-1 single-seat motor-glider with a high-aspect low-monoplane wing, registered F-WJGX it first flew on 6 July 1960.[1] Fournier followed it with an improved variant, the RF-2 using a Rectimo AR.1200 engine, the first of two-built, with the help of Centre Est, first flew in June 1962.[1]

Fournier started a company Societé Alpavia to manufacture a production variant of the RF-2, named the RF-3.[1] The first RF-3 was exhibited at the June 1963 Paris Air Show. Series production commenced later that year.

An aerobatic variant with a strengthened airframe was produced as the Fournier RF-4.

Variants

RF-1
Prototype Avions Planeur first flown in 1960, one built.[1]
RF-2
Improved variant, first flown in 1962, two built.[1]
RF-3
Production variant first flown in 1963, 89 built by Alpavia at Gap-Tallard.[1]

Specifications (RF-3)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66[2]

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Simpson 1991, pp. 153-154
  2. Taylor 1965, p. 30.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fournier RF-3.


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