By STAN KASPRZYK

FlightLog Archive

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Aircraft Flown

Flying the SIAI Marchetti SF260 - July 2026

My friend and fellow USAF Academy grad Drew 'STOLI' Blase and I had been discussing the aircraft we flew in our Air Force flying days, and I learned of his history of flying most of the current USAF aircraft with '2s' in their designation - the B-52, MC-12, B-2 and U-2. In civilian flying, STOLI is now the owner and pilot of another '2', the SIAI Marchetti SF260. Since I'm always eager to fly a new aircraft type, I planned to meet STOLI at the Bremerton airport to check out his SF260. STOLI has been flying aerobatic demonstrations at airshows throughout the Northwest, and I was eager to fly with him to check out the SF260 and get an updated dose of Vitamin 'G'.

I always try to obtain the POH (Pilot Operating Handbook) and history before flying a new aircraft type. STOLI sent me a POH copy, and I researched the SF260's amazingly rich worldwide history. The SF260 was designed by Italian aircraft designer Stelio Frati, with a first flight in 1964. The SF260 was initially largely sold to military customers as a trainer and light combat aircraft, with limited civil sales to private operators. The aircraft has been selected by over 30 air forces worldwide to train professional military pilots and is still operational in both civil and military pilot training bases in several countries. The list of countries that at one time flew, or are still flying the SF260 is impressive: Belgium, Bolivia, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Philippines, Rhodesia, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zaire and Zimbabwe, with many employing it in the close air support and ground attack combat roles.

During the late 1970s, an improved model, designated as the SF260C, became the primary production model. The SF260C featured various improvements, including redesigned tabs on the ailerons, a strengthened wing, a re-profiled airfoil for improved low-speed handling, and an elongated tail/rudder. STOLI's SF-260 is a 'C' model. Out of nearly 900 SF-260s produced, around 180 have been sold to civilian users. Alitalia, Sabena, Royal Air Maroc and British Midland Airways purchased the aircraft as a trainer for airliner pilots. Air Combat USA operates 9 SF-260s.

I flew my Warrior to Bremerton, and met STOLI as he taxied from his Bremerton hangar to the transient ramp. We reviewed the SF260 aircraft with a walkaround and a review of the cockpit setup. Four tanks hold the 64 gallons of usable fuel - 12.7 gallons in each main and 18.3 in each tip, with the tip tanks empty for today's aerobatic maneuvers. I initially thought the SF260 was a two-seater, but it has a decent-sized bench seat in the aft cockpit. The cockpit itself is configured for the pilot-in-command to fly from the right seat, with the central throttle quadrant in your left hand and stick in the right, similar to most fighter aircraft configurations (as all aircraft should be configured). STOLI graciously let me have the right seat, where I flew the takeoff from runway 2, appreciating the nice power from the O-540 without excessive right rudder required. I retracted the gear after locating the very small gear handle, then raised the flaps as we turned and climbed south of Bremerton.

We flew to overhead the Case Inlet, where I got a feel for the flight control forces during some medium and steep banked turns and maneuvering. I found the SF260 had a nice blend of stability and maneuverability in a single package, with light control forces but no tendency toward PIO (Pilot Induced Oscillations).

STOLI demoed a 3G loop at an entry speed of 160 knots, then a 4G loop entering at 180 knots. I flew a loop with a bit less than 3Gs on the initial pull, giving us a slower speed over the top. I tried to make a slightly too aggressive pull on the bottom part of the loop, almost entering an accelerated stall in the downhill recovery, which was easily corrected by reducing the aft stick input. The SF260 nicely picks up speed downhill, and reminds me of aerobatic flying in the T-37. STOLI flew a few aileron rolls, then I tried one, bottoming out a bit, but enjoying the smooth roll capability. STOLI demoed another loop and roll, then we proceeded back to Bremerton while I continued to get a feel for the flight controls. We flew two overheads to a touch and go, with final flown comfortably at 80 knots with full flaps, then a full stop for a great SF260 introduction. STOLI mentioned how strange it felt to fly from the left seat, needing to use his left hand on the stick and right hand on the throttle - and I completely agreed!

STOLI, thanks for the SF260 introduction! We now need to find some compatible lead/wing aircraft for some formation refresher and advanced formation recurrency...and also more Vitamin 'G' sorties!