Funk F-23

This article is about an agricultural aircraft. For other uses, see F23.

Role
Manufacturer	Funk
Designer	Donald Funk
First flight	November 1962
Number built	15

The Funk F-23 was an agricultural aircraft produced in the United States during the 1960s. It was designed by Donald Funk using the fuselage frame of military surplus Fairchild PT-19 trainers as a starting point. The resulting aircraft was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage and all-metal construction. The main structural changes were in the wing, which had all-new outer panels. The space occupied by the forward cockpit of the PT-19 was used to accommodate a 200 US Gallon (757 litre) hopper for chemicals. Production continued until 1970, when manufacturing rights to the design were purchased by Cosmic Aircraft. The new owner, however, produced no further examples of the type.

Variants

• F-23 - prototype (1 built)
• F-23A - production version with Continental W-670-M engine (11 built)
• F-23B - production version with Jacobs R-755 engine (3 built)

Specifications (F-23A)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 200 US Gallons (757 Litres) of chemicals
• Length: 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
• Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m)
• Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
• Wing area: 287 ft² (26.7 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,250 lb (1,021 kg)
• Gross weight: 4,300 lb (1,950 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental W-670-M, 240 hp (180 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h)
• Rate of climb: 400 ft/min (2.0 m/s)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 269. 
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 421. 

See also