Sportavia-Pützer
Fournier RF 5
The Fournier RF‑5 is a light, low‑wing, two‑seat motor glider that emerged in the early 1970s as the culminating design of the French‑German collaboration between Émile Fournier’s aircraft team and the West German light‑aircraft manufacturer Sportavia‑Pützer. Development began in 1972, building on the earlier RF‑4D with a larger wing span, a more powerful 68 hp Porsche‑.Pullen (or Limbach) engine and refined composite construction. First flight occurred on 12 May 1974 and series production started at Sportavia‑Pützer’s Strausberg factory the following year. The RF‑5’s 15‑meter high‑aspect‑ratio wing, equipped with slotted flaps and Schempp‑Hirth air brakes, gives it an exceptional glide ratio of 31:1 while still delivering a respectable cruise speed of 150 km/h under power. Its steel‑tube fuselage, fabric‑covered aft section and all‑metal forward cockpit provide a rugged yet lightweight airframe suitable for training, cross‑country soaring and recreational use. The aircraft’s modest operating costs, ease of handling and ability to self‑launch made it popular with flying clubs throughout Europe, and it helped to revive interest in motor‑glider aviation during a period when pure sailplanes dominated the market. The RF‑5 remains a testament to the innovative spirit of Sportavia‑Pützer and the enduring legacy of Pierre Fournier’s designs.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1968