MBB 223 Flamingo

223 Flamingo
SIAT-built Flamingo at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport in June 1967
Role	Civil trainer aircraft
Manufacturer	SIAT, MBB, CASA
First flight	1 March 1967

The MBB 223 Flamingo was a light aircraft developed in West Germany in the 1960s in response to a competition for a standard trainer for the country's aeroclubs. Designed by SIAT, it was a conventional low-wing monoplane with fixed tricycle undercarriage. The cockpit was enclosed by a large bubble canopy. SIAT had not undertaken much production of the type before the firm was acquired by MBB in 1970. Eventually, the new owners transferred production to CASA in Spain.

A fully acrobatic, single-seat version, and a four-seat utility version were also developed.

Variants

Model 223A-1 Flamingo Trainer A1

Two or four-seat trainer aircraft, powered by a 149-kW (200-hp) Avco Lycoming IO-360 piston engine.

Model 223K-1 Flamingo Trainer K1

Single-seat aerobatic aircraft, powered by a 149-kW (200-hp) Avco Lycoming AIO-360 piston engine.

Model 223T-1 Flamingo Trainer T1

One aircraft fitted with a turbocharged 157-kW (210-hp) Avco Lycoming TO-360-C1A6D piston engine.

Model 223-M4

The Model 223T-1 Flamingo Trainer T1 was later fitted with a Porsche PFM 3200 engine. One aircraft only.

Operators

Military Operators

 Syria

• Syrian Air Force

Former operators

  Switzerland

• Swissair

 Turkey

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, pilot and instructor
• Length: 7.43 m (24 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 8.28 m (27 ft 2 in)
• Height: 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 11.5 m² (124 ft²)
• Empty weight: 685 kg (1,510 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Avco Lycoming IO-360-C1B, 149 kW (200 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 243 km/h (152 mph)
• Range: 1,150 km (717 miles)
• Service ceiling: 3,750 m (12,300 ft)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 238, 638.