SIAI-Marchetti S.205

infobox Aircraft
name =S.205
type =Liaision and glider-towing aircraft
manufacturer =Aermacchi



caption = S.208 of the Italian Air Force
designer =Alexander Brena
first flight =1965
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user =Aeronautica Militare
more users =Tunisian Air Force
produced =
number built =approximately 620 S.205s and 120 S.208s
unit cost =
variants with their own articles =SIAI-Marchetti S.210The SIAI-Marchetti S.205 is an Italian four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, manufactured by Savoia-Marchetti. The S.205 made its maiden flight in 1965. The Italian Air Force employs a version called S.208.

Development

The S.205 was the brainchild of the SIAI-Marchetti head designer Alexander Brena in 1964. Brena wanted to make a light, general-purpose aircraft, which led to the S.205. The aircraft was all-metal, low-winged, single-engined and provided space for four persons. Further development led into the S.208, which had a 260 hp engine, retractable landing gear, and 5 places. Other planned, but never realized versions were the S.206 and S.210.

The first produced aircraft, the S.205-18F, flew in the February 1966 and deliveries began the following year. Production ceased in 1975, but between 1977 and 1980 a further 140 S.205-20Rs were produced to satisfy an order emitted from the Italian flying club "AeroClub Italia".

Approximately 65 fuselages were transported to the United States, to be assembled in Syracuse, NY by the WACO aircraft manufacturing company. Initially the aircraft was called WACO Sirrus (4 -seat) and later VELA S220 (5-seat), but with the death of Mr. Berger, the president of the company, the assembly of the S.205 came to a halt in the USA.

Operational history

The Italian Air Force acquired 45 aircraft for use as liaision, glider-towing, and training aircraft. The military version, called S.208M, differed from the civil version through its avionics, its two doors for the cockpit, the possibility to mount a hook to tow the gliders and the lack of some fuel tanks. The first 4 delivered aircraft were S.205s, but were later converted into S.208s.

Two aircraft were also sold to Tunisia, who used them for pilot training. [ [http://www.museoaviazione.com/dettaglio_scheda.html?id=31&categoria=1 SIAI-Marchetti S 208] ]

Variants

;S.205: basic version, metal, single-engine four-seat airplane, the F version had a fixed undercarriage, while the R version had a retractable undercarriage. It was offered with three different engines::S.205 F/R-18: Avco Lycoming O-360:S.205 F/R-20: Avco Lycoming IO-360-A1A:S.205 F/R-22: Franklin 6A-350C1;S.206: 6-seat version, never realized;S.208: 5-seat version with a 260 hp engine and a retractable undercarriage;S.208M: military version for the Italian Air Force;S.208AG: agricultural version, also used as an aviation-ambulance.;S.210: twin-engine version, never realized

Operators

Civil

The aircraft has been registered in some 27 countries in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Australia.

Military

;ETH;ITA;TUN

pecifications (S.205)

Aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=Pilot and three passengers
length main=8.1 m
length alt=
span main=10.86 m
span alt=
height main=2.89 m
height alt=
area main=16.09 m²
area alt=
empty weight main=780 kg
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=1,300 kg
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=Avco Lycoming IO-360-A1A
type of prop=piston engine
number of props=1
power main=
power alt=200 hp
max speed main=285 km/h
max speed alt=
range main=1,200 km
range alt=
ceiling main=5,400 m
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=

ee also

aircontent
related=
*SIAI-Marchetti S.210
similar aircraft=

sequence=

References