Vulcanair Canguro

SF.600 Canguro
Prototype SF 600
Role	Feederliner
National origin	Italy
Manufacturer	General Avia, SIAI Marchetti, Vulcanair
Designer	Stelio Frati
First flight	30 December 1978
Number built	ca. 10
Variants	S.700 Cormorano

The Vulcanair SF.600 Canguro (en: "Kangaroo") was a feederliner developed in Italy in the late 1970s. Despite a number of attempts to put the aircraft into series production, only a small number were ever built. The Canguro was a high-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration with a fuselage of rectangular cross-section and a high-set tail. The tricycle undercarriage was not retractable, and its main units were carried on sponsons on the fuselage sides. SIAI Marchetti provided funding towards the construction of the prototype, and constructed this aircraft at the former Aviamilano plant. After flight testing proved positive, the type was put on sale, but failed to attract buyers in any number, even when the original piston engines were exchanged for turboprops and retractable undercarriage was offered as an option.

Following their acquisition of SIAI Marchetti, Agusta continued to offer the design, and a contract for joint production was signed with Sammi in South Korea in 1992, but nothing came of this. A similar venture to produce the aircraft in conjunction with PADC in the Philippines proved similarly fruitless. PADC acquired two aircraft, RP-C1298 and RP-3101. In 1997, Vulcanair purchased the design from Finmeccanica (Agusta's parent company), but although a small number of examples were produced, no series production was undertaken. Vulcanair next proceeded to use the Canguro's fuselage to develop the single-engine Vulcanair Mission.

Variants

SF600

1982-variant with two Allison 250-B17C turboprop engines.

SF600A

1989-variant with increased mean take-off weight, two Allison 250-B17F/1 turboprop engines, modification to the wing aerodynamics and modifications to the landing gear support structure.

A former Philippine Coast Guard SF.600 at Manila Ninoy Aquino International

Specifications (SF.600TP)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: One-two pilots
• Capacity: 9 passengers
• Length: 12.15 m (39 ft 10½ in)
• Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 2½ in)
• Height: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 24.00 m² (258.3 ft²)
• Aspect ratio: 9.1:1
• Empty weight: 1,875 kg (4,133 lb)
• Gross weight: 3,400 kg (7,495 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Allison 250-B17C turboprops, 313 kW (420 hp) each each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 306 km/h (190 mph)
• Cruising speed: 287 km/h (178 mph)
• Range: 1,580 km (981 miles)
• Service ceiling: 7,315 m (24,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7.5 m/s (1,480 ft/min)

References

• Taylor, John W. R. (1988). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5. 
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 417. ISBN 0-7106-0710-5. 
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. p. 366. ISBN 1-85310-577-5. 
• "New Frati twin first flight imminent". Flight. No. 7 October 1978. 1978. p. 1304. Retrieved 2008-04-02. 
• "Agusta forms Korean venture". Flight. No. 10 June 1989. 1989. p. 37. Retrieved 2008-04-02.