Photography by Jan Morgan
Just Call It the Flying Ferrari
October 1, 2003
Once a turbine is running, it tends to stay running, so a terse, pre-takeoff check of the systems is all that is necessary. The turbine Marchetti has rudder and aileron trim to counteract the extra torque of the Allison and to correct wing-heavy situations due to wing-mounted stores, or fuel imbalances, and these must be set for takeoff.
On the runway, the SF260TP accelerates hard as the 350 horses are called into play. Rotation occurs at 65 knots, followed by gear retraction as the aircraft accelerates in ground effect flight. Flaps are retracted at 80 knots, and in about two seconds, the 110-knot best rate of climb is attained, and a 2,500-fpm (feet-per-minute) climb is established. Lowering the nose for better visibility gave 130 knots, with a respectable 1,500-fpm rate of climb.
Once clear of the airport traffic area, the fun begins. The 260TP cruises about 40 knots faster than its piston brother, and the additional speed lends the controls a somewhat heavier feel than the standard SF260. All Marchetti pilots feel as though they are flying a military jet, and the Allison enhances the feeling with the smooth, vibration-free thrust of the turboprop engine.
The flying qualities of the aircraft are impeccable. Built for the hard use encountered in ACM (air combat maneuvers), the Marchetti feels as though it were carved from a solid block of aluminum. With its high wing loading, it knifes through turbulence without the float of other light aircraft. While most light aircraft must slow down for rough air, the Marchetti attacks severe turbulence at its maximum structural cruising speed of 185 knots.
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