Is this Slepcev Storch the ultimate STOL aircraft?
A Slepcev Storch STOL aircraft has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part): This is one Super STOL aircraft that is a ¾ scale replica of the famous German plane, the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch. If you want the ultimate STOL aircraft then this is the one.
When did Slepcev land the Storch Mk 4?
It took Slepcev a year to gain Italian approvals for the flight and on 24 August 1996, he landed a Storch Mk 4 at the site, 53 years after the original dramatic rescue had taken place.
What is the Fi 156 Storch ultralight?
The ultralight version is a 3/4 scale replica of the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch of the Second World War and is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. The aircraft was first flown in 1994. It was originally manufactured by Slepcev’s company, Slepcev Aircraft Industry of Beechwood, New South Wales, Australia.
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What engine does a Storch Mk 4 have?
It took Slepcev a year to gain Italian approvals for the flight and on 24 August 1996, he landed a Storch Mk 4 at the site, 53 years after the original dramatic rescue had taken place. Homebuilt kit version, powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS or 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914, with a gross weight of 550 kg (1,213 lb).
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Are Storch planes still in use?
After World War II, Storch aircraft were used in utility roles including agricultural spraying. Many Storches are still operational today and are commonly shown at air shows. In North America, both the Collings Foundation and the Fantasy of Flight museum have airworthy Fi 156 Storch aircraft in their collections.
What is a Fi 156 Storch?
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (English: Stork) was a small German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II. Production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market. It was notable for its excellent STOL performance and low stall speed of 50 km/h (31 mph).
What was the Storch used for?
In 1943, the Storch played a role in Operation Eiche, the rescue of deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from a boulder-strewn mountain-top near the Gran Sasso. Even though the mountain was surrounded by Italian troops, German commando Otto Skorzeny and 90 paratroopers used gliders to land on the peak and quickly captured it.
