Sequoia Falco

The Sequoia F.8L Falco is a lightweight 2-seater aerobatic aircraft, sold in kit or plans form for self-assembly by the Sequoia Aircraft company of Richmond, Virginia. The aircraft is single-engined, propeller driven and designed for private and general aviation use.

The aircraft was designed by the renowned Italian designer Stelio Frati in 1955, and originally built in Italy by Aeromere (later Laverda) for sale, but the design was adopted in the US in the 1980s and converted to kit form. The aircraft is widely considered to be one of the best handling, strongest, and most aesthetically pleasing designs ever made available to home builders. The makers call it "the Ferrari of the air", and like the car, it is very expensive compared with most homebuild kits.

Performance is good, with 175 knot average cruise speeds and 6g aerobatic capability

The Sequoia Falco F8L is constructed of spruce and typically Finnish birch plywood. The structure is built from spruce and the birch plywood is used for the skin. The plywood is often softened with hot steam, formed over the various structures and glued in place. The aircraft is rated at 6Gs positive and 3Gs negative.

ee also

*Aermacchi F-260 (military trainer designed by Frati)

External links

* [http://www.seqair.com/ Sequoia's site]
* [http://www.aldini.it/ Homebuilding the Falco f8l I-ALDI]